Binder1

Another oil and gas chamber launched P2

Nationwide coverage from the best news team in Guyana guyanatimesgy.com

Issue No. 3196

THE BEACON OF TRUTH

Saturday, April 29, 2017

“Ghost” teachers collecting salaries in Region 10 – report Page 3

Motorcyclist dies after crashing into plough Page 7

Bandit shot after grabbing wallet

PRICE

$80 vat included

WHAT'S INSIDE: Water dispute

Bagotstown man slapped with murder P10 charge

Crime Chief decries bail for serious crime offenders P11

Page 9

Due process will always be followed for licence P11 revocation – GNBA …says broadcasters will have recourse to courts

Over 840 children saved from family separation – CPA first quarter report P17

GPSU elections

Republic Bank Limited on Friday honoured the country’s top performers in the various fields of academic pursuits within the last year. In photo are: Receiving the awards were Anthony Ferreira, top performer at the National Grades Six Assessment 2016; Kayshav Tewari, the Caribbean Secondary Education Council (CSEC) Most Outstanding Candidate 2016; Larissa Wiltshire (acting Chief Justice Roxane George collected on her behalf) for the Caribbean Advanced Proficiency Examination (CAPE); Tishana Rajkumar, Diploma in Business and Finance; and David Cole, the best graduating student in Social Sciences at the University of Guyana. Also in photo are Education Minister, Dr Rupert Roopnaraine; University of Guyana Vice Chancellor, Ivelaw Griffith; RBL Managing Director Richard Sammy and parents

Govt responds Page 7 Former AG to Reporters to challenge Without criminal charge BordersPage in High Court report 9 Law books vendetta

Controversy erupts over integrity of ballot

P3

Man recaptured after escaping P9 from Police outpost

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saturDAY, APRIL 29, 2017 | guyanatimesgy.com

White paper on sugar will confirm Govt’s stance – GAWU

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he Guyana Agricultural and General Workers Union (GAWU) is convinced that the “white paper” on the sugar industry’s future, which is expected to be laid at the next sitting of the National Assembly, will include several negative elements, including the closure of several other sugar estates.

A white paper is an authoritative report about a complex issue which is meant to help persons to understand an issue, solve a problem, or make a decision.

GAWU’s President, Komal Chand, said the Union will confirm Government’s position that was put to GAWU, the National Association of Agricultural, Commercial and Industrial Employees (NAACIE) and the People’s Progressive Party (PPP) on December 31, 2016, to implement several major changes to the industry.

He recalled that the proposal which was presented to the three parties recommended that the Enmore and Rose Hall sugar estates be closed, and to have the Skeldon Sugar Factory placed for sale.

“I have no doubt about the closure and sellout is in the white paper because this has been confirmed by the President (David Granger) that we will have only three estates,” Chand told Guyana Times on Tuesday.

According to him, this leaves no hope for people who are directly employed with

GAWU President Komal Chand

the industry, as they may have to begin seeking alternative employment in areas many of them are not familiar with.

“One cannot be happy with a situation that it will bring so much negative effects on the workers of this country and by extension communities, and so many other people who depend on the resources of sugar,” he added.

Prior to the announcement made by Government to have the white paper laid in the National Assembly, the GAWU head said that information obtained by his union indicates that the Enmore Estate will not operate from next year, mainly because mechanisms are not in place to keep the facility functional.

During last week, Minister of State Joseph Harmon revealed that the white paper included plans to have lands made available to sugar workers and cane

farmers to undertake agrobased activities.

But Chand told Guyana Times that while this may be a well-intentioned initiative, it has to be done in a manner that does not affect the workers employment.

“When they talk about giving lands to farmers, where is the plan? You have already dislocated 1700 workers there (Wales Estate). So, where is the plan?” he posited.

The GAWU President has described the move by Government to gradually close the industry as “unconscionable” and “anti-working class,” which, he said will not only affect hundreds more, but thousands of workers who have spent all their lives in the industry.

Another area of discussion that is contained in the white paper is the feasibility of merging some of the sugar estates and factories where appropriate, and selling off some facilities.

The draft white paper on the sugar industry’s future was submitted by Agriculture Minister Noel Holder to Cabinet for its consideration on Tuesday, April 18, 2017. Cabinet discussed the proposals in the draft white paper and subsequently granted its approval for the document to be laid in the National Assembly.

The white paper follows a process of overhauling of the industry which includes a Commission of Inquiry (CoI) into the Guyana Sugar Corporation (GuySuCo), the

subsequent setting up of a special Task Force to look at options, on the way forward for the sugar company.

Finance Minister Winston Jordan in his presentation of the 2017 Budget had indicated the status quo of the sugar

industry can neither be sustained nor maintained.

According to him, as currently structured, the industry would require Government’s support to the tune of $18.6 billion and $21.4 billion for the years

2017 and 2018, respectively.

The Minister had explained that based on the CoI, it was concluded that any money injected into sugar, in its current state, is money wasted.

Another oil and gas chamber launched

Natural Resources Minister Raphael Trotman along with GOGEC President Manniram Prashad and other members of the organisation

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he Guyana Oil and Gas Energy Chambers (GOGEC) now has the support of the Natural Resources Ministry after Minister Raphael Trotman pledged his support towards the organisation.

Trotman met with Manniram Prasad, who heads the Chambers and other members on Friday, where he welcomed the Chamber and pledged his full cooperation in working along with the organisation to better the oil and gas industry.

The meeting was held with the Minister to discuss issues related to the oil and gas industry.

Among the list of concerns addressed were issues pertaining to the Petroleum Commission Bill, which outlines the regulations that will govern the newly established Petroleum Commission.

In addition, discussions were had on the Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative (EITI) which is a global organisation of 51 member countries. These countries have all subscribed to establishing, upholding and promoting the standards and tenets of good governance, transparency and accountability in the management of extractive industries.

The issue of the local content and local content legislation was also addressed. The local content plan addresses how the oil and gas industry can benefit Guyanese.

GOGEC functions as a Chamber, which arranges meetings with Government, ExxonMobil and other stakeholders for discussions on the oil and gas industry.

Its educational trust will also include seminars, trade missions and expositions throughout Guyana with the aim of ensuring that all Guyanese become informed of the impact that the oil and gas industry will have on the development of the country.

news

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saturDAY, APRIL 29, 2017 | guyanatimesgy.com

BRIDGE OPENINGS

The Demerara Harbour Bridge will be closed to vehicular traffic on:

Saturday, April 29 – 05:30h-07:00h and Sunday, April 30 – 05:30h-07:00h.

The Berbice Bridge will be closed to vehicular traffic on: Berbice – Saturday, April 29 – 06:00h-07:30h and Sunday, April 30 – 06:45h-08:15h.

"Ghost" teachers collecting salaries in Region 10 – report

FERRY SCHEDULE

Parika and Supenaam departure times - 05:00h, 11:00h and 16:00h daily

WEATHER TODAY Weather: Thundery to heavy rain showers can be expected throughout the day, with light cloud and rain showers in the evening. Temperatures are expected to range between 24 degrees and 28 degrees Celsius.

Winds: East North-easterly to Easterly between 3.12 metres and 4.91 metres.

High Tide: 06:23h and 18:55h reaching maximum heights of 2.86 metres and 2.67 metres respectively.

Low Tide: 12:26h reaching a minimum height of 0.35 metres.

Education Minister, Dr Rupert Roopnaraine

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he preliminary report of the Commission of Inquiry launched into the state of the education sector of Region 10 has revealed that there are several non-existent teachers collecting salaries from the Government.

Greater vigilance has therefore been urged at the level of the Regional

Education Department.

“We were in the Berbice River, and we have some concerns about what is happening. We have seen pay sheets with names of teachers who, as far as the head teacher is concerned, do not exist…and (the regional education) department must monitor and know who the persons on the payroll are,” Commission Chairman Ed Caesar has informed.

He also said the commission has found that ‘ghost teachers’ are being transferred from ‘ghost schools’ and are being added to the payroll.

Education Minister Dr Rupert Roopnaraine, informing that the issue is criminal, has said the findings would be turned over to the police for investigation.

“This is a police matter,” he said. “This is high fraud and it should be dealt with.

And I think this is some-

Region 10 Chairman Renis Morian

thing beyond the Ministry of Education and requires the attention of people who are trained to investigate (such issues).”

The education department that presides over matters affecting Berbice riverine communities is managed by the regional administration of Region 10, according to a source

from that department, who explained that education is administrated at a regional level, and therefore the administrators of Region 10 would be able to explain the instance of “ghost teachers”. Efforts to contact Region 10 Chairman Renis Morian have been unsuccessful.

The preliminary report of the CoI was handed over to the Education Minister on Friday, and the final report is expected to be handed over within the next two or three weeks. The CoI was launched in 2015 to determine what is lacking and to recommend measures that could be implemented to improve the education sector for persons countrywide.

There have been 98 consultations across the country, with presentations and submissions from all stakeholders.

GPSU elections

Controversy erupts over integrity of ballot WEDNESDAY, April 26, 2017

LOTTERY NUMBERS B

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FREE TICKET

FRIDAY, APRIL 29, 2017

DAILY MILLIONS 07 09 10 14

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DISCLAIMER: WE ARE NOT RESPONSIBLE FOR ANY ERRORS IN PUBLICATION. PLEASE CALL THE HOTLINE FOR CONFIRMATION - TEL: 225-8902

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he Guyana Public Service Union (GPSU) has held it elections for office-bearers after the injunction stopping those proceedings had been dismissed by a High Court Judge on Thursday.

However, presidential hopeful Gregory Gaspar has expressed the view that, since a number of discrepancies had occurred during the day’s proceedings, the ballot might have been compromised to favour his opponent, Patrick Yarde.

“We got (a) report (that) in New Amsterdam there was some kind of rigging.

Our persons who were there to observe (the counting of the ballot) were actually asked to leave, and (the) other (team’s members) were allowed to witness (the count). So we have knowledge that indeed there (was) some kind of rigging,”

Gaspar told Guyana Times on Friday.

Gaspar said that up to late Friday evening, Elections Officer Hermon DeSouza was reportedly still looking for persons to count the ballot. “He (DeSouza) is not getting anyone to work.

Everybody he asking is refusing, so he said that we don’t count any ballot today (Friday), but wait until (next) Wednesday; and when (I asked) him if he (would) be willing to put that in writing, he then (changed his position) and said it’s just a suggestion,” Gaspar informed.

He added that neither DeSouza nor his deputy, Gregory Mentore, was at GPSU Headquarters to receive the ballot boxes arriving from outlying areas.

And this compromises the security of the boxes, since they were left in the care of

staffers of the union, with no security.

Gaspar also voiced his concern about the ballot box from Linden, Region 10, since he claims that it was supposed to be back at headquarters since Thursday night, but never showed up until after 11:00 h on Friday.

He noted that the entire election process is shrouded in controversy, and he is of the view that there are deliberate efforts to sabotage his election.

Justice Nareshwar Harnanan had, on April 20, granted a temporary injunction blocking the elections after a motion had been filed by Gaspar. In that motion, Gaspar had alleged that the accounts of the union have not been audited for several years.

However, the injunction was quashed on Tuesday when the union’s attorneys

made submissions to the court; and the election was called on Thursday.

A rift has, over the past weeks, developed between the current executives of the GPSU and certain branches of the union over various issues, including President Patrick Yarde’s longstanding appointment to the post of Chairman of the GPSU and his inability to “effectively” represent union members; as well as issues relating to transparency and accountable.

Yarde has been serving at the helm of the Union for over 30 years, after consistently being re-elected to the post. However, some members are of the view that he is illegally in the position and is “holding a leash” to the post. To this end, a protest was held by several members calling for his resignation.

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guyanatimesgy.com

saturDAY, april 29, 2017

Views Editor: Tusika Martin News Hotline: 231-8063 Editorial: 231-0544, 223-7230, 223-7231, 225-7761 Marketing: 231-8064 Accounts: 225-6707

Mailing address: Queens Atlantic Investment Estate Industrial Site, Ruimveldt, Georgetown Email: news@guyanatimesgy.com, sales@guyanatimesgy.com

Investing in early childhood development

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ccording to findings from the recently-published ‘The Lancet’s Series, Advancing Early Childhood Development: from Science to Scale’ an estimated 43 per cent – 249 million – of children under five in lowand middle-income countries are at an elevated risk of poor development due to extreme poverty and stunting.

The Caribbean regional launch of the series took place immediately following the 32nd Meeting of the Council for Human and Social Development (COHSOD) on Education, and was hosted by the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) in collaboration with the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) Secretariat.

The Series has once again made a strong case for Governments and other stakeholders to work towards designing and implementing effective policies and programmes and allocate the necessary resources to ensure early childhood development.

According to the authors of the Series, early childhood development interventions that promote nurturing care – health, nutrition, responsive caregiving, security and safety, and early learning – may cost very little, when combined with existing services such as health.

Sylvie Fouet, representative of UNICEF – Guyana and Suriname, was quoted by CARICOM as saying: “The science and economics are clearly on the side of investing in the first 1000 days of a child’s life. The cost of not doing so is higher.

Children fall behind long before they set foot in school.”

There is therefore need for increased global commitment to early childhood development. The consequences of inaction impact not only present but future generations. In the region, there is less public provisioning for early childhood education, especially for the zero to two-year age group, as opposed to the pre-school years. For example, it was explained that the uneven funding distribution across sectors is striking; expenditure on pre-primary as share of government expenditure on education is only 2.9 per cent compared to primary at 34.9 per cent and 40.3 per cent for secondary education.

One of the authors of the Lancet Series, Rafael PérezEscamilla, Professor of Epidemiology and Public Health, Director of the Office of Public Health Practice, and Director of the Global Health Concentration at the Yale School of Public Health, presented the research findings and recommendations to Education Ministers from several CARICOM member states, as well as Regional Education officials at the COHSOD Meeting.

The Series authors propose several ways the global community can scale-up support for early childhood development services; these include by; encouraging the adoption and implementation of policies to create supportive environments for families to provide nurturing care for young children, building capacity and strengthening coordination to promote early childhood development through existing health, nutrition, education, social, and child protection services, strengthening measurement and ensuring accountability for early childhood development services, increasing research, and fostering global and regional leadership and action and expanding political will and funding through advocacy for the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

Guyana must be commended for placing the issue of early childhood development high on its national development agenda. In September 2015, the Government, through a US$1.7 million grant from the World Bank, launched its Early Childhood Development Project. The project, which came as a result of intense discussions between early childhood educators and other relevant officials, is aimed at improving the emergent literacy and numeracy outcomes for children at the nursery level and primary Grade One in hinterland regions.

The first component of the project caters for capacity building for nursery and Grade One teachers and is aimed at improving the quality of instruction and learning at the nursery and Grade One levels by strengthening teachers’ knowledge, particularly with regard to the implementation of new strategies for the development of emergent literacy and numeracy skills, through an in-service teacher training programme. The second component of the project targets improved supply of teaching and learning materials.

The issue of early childhood development must be taken seriously by all stakeholders as research has shown that a child’s brain develops faster in the first two to three years than at any other time in life. It was proven that these early years are also a critical period of adaptability and responsiveness to interventions.

A model, painted by the artist Avi Ram from Airbrush Hero, poses for a photo as part of a calendar project, at the Tower of David in Jerusalem's Old City (Reuters)

Govt director needs to be better acquainted with sugar industry Dear Editor, The Guyana Agricultural and General Workers Union (GAWU) wishes to refer to an article appearing in the media on April 26, 2017 under the title “Sugar, votes and cyclical poverty”, authored by the Director of Public Information, Mr Imran Khan.

In his article, the director called attention to a statement by our union’s president, Mr Komal Chand, in response to the then planned European Union (EU) sugar price cut. The GAWU president quite correctly pointed to the obvious dangers that would come to bear if the EU had proceeded with its then plan. It was generally acknowledged by all those who knew about sugar that the EU cut, or ‘reform’, as it was styled, would present difficulties for the industry. This, as far as we know, was never shied away from or hidden.

Mr Khan also seemingly goes on to put words in the GAWU president’s mouth, saying that Mr Chand was aware that the EU changes would make the industry unsustainable.

Neither our union nor Mr Chand ever made such utterances. We find Mr Khan’s assertions baseless and without substance. The industry recognized challenges that would emerge, and crafted a plan to address the fallout.

Mr Khan may also be inter-

ested to learn that the industry’s measures were, not so surprisingly, fully supported by persons who currently hold high-level positions in the said industry. Now those same individuals tell us those ideas no longer hold water.

We find their somersaulting interesting. Is it a case of he who pays the piper calling the tune?

We also wish to advise Mr Khan that Diamond Estate was closed in 1985, and the LBI factory in 2011. However, it was not until the latter half of 2016 that LBI Estate was closed, when certain operations were merged with their counterparts at Enmore. The union was until then made to understand by GuySuCo officials that the LBI Estate would not be closed. That ‘consolidation’, we understand, was intended to reduce costs and improve efficiencies. Yet, a few weeks after, our union and the workers learnt on the last day of 2016 that the Administration was contemplating closing the same estate – Enmore Estate – and putting about 2,300 workers out of work.

We are disheartened to read Mr Khan saying that a large number of workers live in an impoverished state.

Indeed, this is inaccurate, and possibly speaks to Mr Khan’s disconnect from reality. Many sugar workers, through their incomes which were adjust-

ed over time, have been able to live modest, humble lives.

Some accomplished feats once thought were impossible, such as sending their children to university.

We find the director’s assertion offensive to the hard-working workers. Or, maybe it is a case of Mr Khan having a crystal ball which advised him that workers would “…live in perpetual, punishing, cyclical poverty” should the Administration implement its dastardly plans for the industry?

Mr Khan’s lack of knowledge is further exposed when he says “there was little effort to diversify…” There were moves in that direction, as evidenced by the Skeldon Co-Generation Plant and the Enmore and Blairmont Packaging Plants. Our union was advised that, in 2016, the operators of the Skeldon Co-Generation Plant collected no less than $9.45B from sales. In fact, for the director’s information, the Sugar Commission of Inquiry (CoI) advised that electricity production has great potential as a revenue earner for GuySuCo. Moreover, packaged sugar, the CoI said, offers the sugar corporation its highest prices.

The ‘junior spin doctor’ may also be interested to know that, just a few weeks ago, a conference to discuss the Jamaican industry con-

cluded that ventures into electricity production and refined white sugar, among other things, offered that industry good possibilities for viability. If Jamaica can do it, what stops Guyana -- which has flat arable land, an adequate fresh water supply, inexpensive cane transportation, know-how, sufficient labour, factory capacity and other advantages -- from doing the same, or even better?

The erstwhile gentleman also points to the level of Government support since the Coalition assumed the reins of power. We wonder if he finds it odd that, given the large sum provided to GuySuCo, sugar production this year is estimated at around 198,000 tonnes.

In view of the investment, production ought to have been much higher than the 231,000 tonnes production inherited in 2015.

Mr Khan may want to ask whether we have the right captain at the helm of GuySuCo. On the debt, we urge the director to seek a disaggregation of the data, as it would be most enlightening for him.

Mr Director, do get better acquainted and acquire a better understanding of the industry you want to write about.

Sincerely, GAWU

Archaic banking system Dear Editor, It’s with much annoyance and frustration I pen this letter. The archaic banking system in Guyana has again caused tremendous inconvenience to my busy life.

My most recent encounter with a local bank has re-

sulted in me being blocked from accessing my money because of a blunder made by staff in the bank. My account was blocked because a mail which was dispatched to my purported address was returned to the bank. The reason the mail was returned is because

the address was incorrect.

I live on the East Bank of Demerara but the mail was addressed to the East Coast of Demerara. I was required to take in a proof of address to get the situation rectified.

However, the last mail I received from the bank (my only source of proof of ad-

dress, as I still live with my parents and all mail are in my father’s name) was addressed to the ECD as well.

I never picked up on this error because the mail were still delivered to my EBD home despite being addressed to the ECD. continues on page 5

guyanatimesgy.com

saturDAY, april 29, 2017

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You can send your letters with pictures to: Guyana Times, Queens Atlantic Investment Estate Industrial Site, Ruimveldt, Georgetown, Guyana or letters@guyanatimesgy.com

Conditions of the working class Limited knowledge of Claims

Dear Editor, We are approaching another May Day, the holiday of the working people. It is a time when workers celebrate their achievements and contemplate their future.

This year, unfortunately, the toiling masses of Guyana have nothing to celebrate, and a lot of grave concerns for the future.

In just two years, the PNC-led APNU regime has done great damage to our economy. It is workers who are feeling the brunt of the pressures as a result of the regime’s faulty economic policies. Indeed, the conditions of life for workers have deteriorated drastically. What we are witnessing is an onslaught on workers.

Thousands of jobs are being lost in the private sector. Many small and medium scale enterprises are closing their doors, leaving their labour force on the breadline.

As if this were not bad enough, we see the massive attacks on the sugar workers. The sugar industry is being decimated. The Wales Estate has been closed, leaving almost two thousand works out of employment.

This is one of the direct consequences of the Government’s actions.

Thousands of sugar workers are facing a very bleak future. However, not only the workers and their families are going to suffer, but whole communities will become depressed. It will also affect the country as a whole.

This is totally unnecessary. The sugar industry does not have to close. It has the potential to add value to its product, and transform the industry from being a producer of raw sugar to a complex producing many products, such as electricity, alcohol, ethanol, refined sugar, and other special types of sugar.

That list is not exhaustive. The investments to do these things are not so great.

The Indian Government had offered assistance to re-capitalise the industry and allow it to develop into a complex. Indian companies have shown great interest in the sugar sector.

A healthy relation can be developed between GuySuCo and those companies in India, and also those in Brazil. However, the APNU regime has so far ignored the Indian interests, and has not perused the Brazilian option.

The regime is not interested in saving the industry.

Instead, it seems determined to close it.

It is not accidental. This regime is anti-working people. This is not just an attack on sugar workers; no, it is an attack on the entire work force.

By attacking the most advanced, the most militant section of the work force, the regime intends to weaken the Trade Union Movement and workers as a whole. This will make the other contingent of the workers very vulnerable to future attacks by

the regime.

Yet, the response from organised labour has been feeble. The disunity in the labour movement and their wrong tactics in not seeking alliances have contributed to the great damage to the working people of our country.

On this May Day, the TUC and FITUG need to do some serious soul searching if they are to become effective in defending workers and oppressed people in Guyana.

Their politics must support and defend measures that promote and defend the interests of workers, regardless of the personal political affiliations of their leaders.

They must denounce the racial and political discrimination that is taking place.

They must condemn the violation of human rights.

They must defend the independence of the Judiciary, among other issues. Failing to do so would only see the further decimation of workers.

This May Day 2017, workers and their trade unions and other organisations must rethink their strategy and tactics. All efforts must be made for the unity of all workers.

Disunity in face of the onslaught by the regime is allowing for the reversal of the gains workers have made in recent times. This is my view. What is yours?

Sincerely, Donald Ramotar

& Objections (Part One)

Dear Editor, It is imperative that we respond to the letter carried in the Guyana Times of Saturday, April 22, 2017 under the title “Local Government and You”, as authored by Mr Neil Kumar.

Mr Kumar made reference to the published notice pointing out that the period for ongoing Claims and Objections (C&O) is April 24 to May 21, 2017 after the 9th Cycle of Continuous Registration would have concluded on March 18, 2017.

This is patently inaccurate and misleading, considering that the C&O exercise is a component of the 9th Cycle of Continuous Registration, as is evident in the relevant Work Plan which was approved by the Commission.

Mr Kumar went on to posit that “the period indicated above for the second phase of the exercise is approximately five weeks after claims and objections are scheduled to commence”. He went further to state that “the situation so far bares a plethora of obvious suspicious questions which are unanswered” – among which are (i) why the delay?

And (ii) was the Elections Commission not prepared?

The start and end dates of the C&O exer-

Preying on predicament Dear Editor, My attention was recently drawn to the disgusting practice of some self-styled ‘pandits’, who encourage unsuspecting persons to contact them for relief from various forms of personal difficulties, such as financial, domestic, romantic, health issues etc etc. The ‘services’ of these unscrupulous ‘pandits’ are commercially advertised in the newspapers, radio and TV stations like any other money-making ‘business’.

Some of these perpetrators advertise themselves as having come from India, presumably as a ploy to project themselves as superior to the ‘lesser’ Guyanese ‘pandits’…..and perhaps to justify their higher ‘fees’!

I do not think that a genuine, sincere ‘pandit’ would engage in any such scam -aimed at self-enrichment at the expense of poor, bewil-

dered people, whose faith in God might have been shaken. Those people need guidance to restore their faith in God, not to redirect them to some ‘short-cut’ bribery of God via unscrupulous scamps and charlatans parading as ‘pandits’.

I wish to take this opportunity to plead with our genuine pandits -- as well as the leadership of our Hindu organisations, such as the Dharmic Sabha, the Virat Sabha, the Guyana Pandits Council et al -- to use their good offices and personal influences to help eradicate this scourge from our society.

(Also, it is perhaps opportune to start considering the possibility of certifying or licensing qualified pandits, who would have graduated from some formal training and who can then be appointed and paid regular salaries by the mandirs which em-

ploy them. After all, our pandits are regular people whose material needs must also be met.

(Of course this suggestion might be easier said than done, but I do not think it is beyond our collective ability to initiate the relevant discussion and appropriate action).

I should also mention that I previously shared the substantive contents of this letter with a number of Hindu friends in Guyana and the Canadian diaspora, all of whom support the idea that something needs to be done.

Finally, I share with readers the following extract from a report in the Globe News in Toronto (ref. http://global news.ca/news/3845530/psychic-charged-with-witchcraft after extorting $100,000. to exorcise evil spirit-police). In summary: the po-

Archaic banking...

So I visited the bank with that mail and outlined the situation to the employee in the card centre. She informed me that I needed a mail in my name in order to unblock the account. I informed her that I do not receive mail in my name out-

side of those from the bank.

Nonetheless, I offered her my driver’s licence, which is usually accepted as proof of address at other institutions.

The employee informed me that my driver’s licence will not work. My fa-

ther is not within the district, and therefore cannot go down with me to verify that his proof of address is also mine. I will now have to resort to sending myself a letter, which will take approximately one week to be delivered.

lice claimed that an astrologer and psychic known as Master Raghav, who was living in Toronto but visiting from India, handed out his business cards at a Rexdale Mall in February-March.

A Brampton man who received one of the cards set up an appointment (which cost just $20.) and was informed that a sick family member had been “the victim of an evil spirit”. After this initial ‘psychic reading’, the man was convinced to withdraw $101,000 from his bank and provide it to the psychic to remove the evil spirit. The exorcism was ‘not successful’, and the victim reported the matter to the police. The psychic was arrested and charged $5000. In the meantime, the sick relative is still sick!

Sincerely, Nowrang Persaud

from page 5

In the meantime, my account will be blocked and I will be temporarily banned from accessing my money – all because of a problem that originated within the bank.

Sincerely, Devina Samaroo

cise are compliant with those documented in the Work Plan for the conduct of the 9th Cycle of Continuous Registration.

Anyone who is familiar with the conduct of a cycle of Continuous Registration would be aware that there was a regime of preparatory administrative and statutory activities which had to be completed, within a relatively tight timeframe, as prerequisites to the conduct of the C&O exercise.

Accordingly, we hereby state unambiguously that there was no “delay” pertaining to the commencement of the C&O exercise; and the fact that we commenced the exercise in accordance with the Work Plan demonstrates that the Secretariat was obviously “prepared”, as mandated by the Commission.

It is important to note that -- at a meeting between a delegation of representatives of the People’s Progressive Party (PPP) (including Mr Kumar) and Mr Keith Lowenfield, Chief Election Officer -- Mr Kumar was provided with the opportunity to raise his “plethora of obvious suspicious questions which are unanswered”, and be provided with respective answers.

That meeting was held on Thursday, April 20, 2017, i.e. two days before the publication of the letter.

In regard to Mr Kumar’s position -- that “the relevance of the continuous registration being done at this time, in the absence of an upcoming election, was questionable, and the matter was raised

without any adequate response from GECOM” -- we have no knowledge where, when, and with whom this matter was raised.

However, had the matter been raised at the meeting with Mr Lowenfield, we would have been happy to provide adequate justification for the conduct of the exercise.

Incidentally, a 2nd letter of similar nature was published in the Guyana Times of Friday, April 28, 2017 under the title “Appoint the Local Government Elections Commission Now”, also authored by Neil Mr Kumar.

In that letter, Mr Kumar questioned the relevance of the conduct of the ongoing Claims and Objections exercise by positing that “such exercises are normally to be followed by elections”. This position of Mr Kumar makes it very obvious that his knowledge relative to the conduct of Claims and Objections as a component of a Cycle of Continuous Registration is relatively limited.

Whereas we are of the view that the explanation/justification for the conduct of Claims and Objections as a component of a Cycle of Continuous Registration will be burdensome in terms of test to include in this response, we must emphasise that such action was approved by the Guyana Elections Commission as a matter of policy.

Sincerely, Vishnu Persaud Deputy Chief Election Officer

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guyanatimesgy.com

Foundation

7

WAYS to raise a

global child

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A

home filled with reading material is a good way to help children become enthusiastic readers. What kind of books should you have? Ask your children about their interests. If they’re too young to have a preference, your local librarian can offer suggestions about age-appropriate books.

Here are some other tips: Keep a varied selection. Collect board books or books with mirrors and different textures for babies.

Preschoolers enjoy alphabet books, rhyming books, and picture books. Elementaryage children will enjoy variety: fiction, nonfiction, and poetry, plus dictionaries and other reference books.

Children can understand stories they might not be able to read on their own. If a more challenging book interests your child, make it something to read together.

Younger children can look at illustrations in books and ask questions as they follow along.

And don’t limit reading material to books.

Children might also

enjoy: magazines (for children) audio books postcards, emails, and text messages from relatives • photo albums or scrapbooks • newspapers • comic books • the Internet • beginning reading and alphabet games on a computer • magnetised alphabet letters • e-readers or e-books Keep reading material handy. Keep sturdy books with other toys for easy exploration. Books near the changing table and high chair can be helpful distractions for younger children at appropriate moments.

Plastic books can even go in the bathtub. Keep books next to comfy chairs and sofas where you cuddle up so you can read after feedings and before naps.

Create a special reading place. As children grow, keep age-appropriate books and magazines on shelves they can reach in their favourite hangouts around the house. Make • • •

these shelves appealing and keep them organized. Place some of the books with the covers facing out so they’re easy to spot. Put a basket full of books and magazines next to their favourite places to sit. Create a cosy reading corner, and encourage children to use it by setting up “reading corner time” each day.

Keep it appealing.

Make sure reading areas have good lighting. Change the materials often – add seasonal books, rotate different magazines, and include books that relate to what children are interested in or studying in school. Decorate the corner with your child’s artwork or writing. Place a CD or tape player nearby for audio books.

Encourage children to create the reading. Set up a writing and art centre and encourage children to make books, posters, or collages that they decorate with their own pictures and writing.

Children love to read things they’ve written themselves or to share their creations with family and friends.

Think about atmosphere

Other ways to encourage children to read: • Give your child a special, cosy space, and quiet time every day to read or write.

• Limit time children spend in front of a screen (including TV, computer, and video games) to help ensure that they have time for reading.

• Keep reading activities family-centred, and take an active role in guiding your child in reading activities and media. Even with today’s high use of technology, parents can decide how much print and how much media to allow into story time.

Reading e-books doesn’t have to mean sacrificing lap-time. Make sure to snuggle up with a story often, in whatever format.

• Read together. Offer to read a book aloud or ask your child to read to you from a favourite magazine. Make a habit of sitting together while you each read your own books, sharing quiet time together. (kidshealth.org)

oday’s children are growing up in a globalized world. But how do you teach them to embrace and thrive among the planet’s many cultures – from Boston to Bangkok?

Travel is an obvious answer, but far-flung trips may not fit your vacation budget. Raising global children doesn’t have to break the bank or feel like another task for your to-do list. Instead, make it a fun exploration and a unique opportunity to learn, enjoy, explore, and grow.

Here are seven ways to get started:

1. “See” the world at home

Hang a world map in a high-traffic spot so children get familiar with (and curious about) country and city names, locations, cultures, and languages. Place a globe where they can reach it and they’re sure to spin it and imagine faroff places.

Consider other decorative

items that have a global connection. Some items will come with a story, like a rug woven by women working to improve their lives. Look for picture books that feature houses, gardens, recipes, or sports in far-off places. Do you have examples of foreign currency? Frame them and hang them on the wall as conversation pieces.

2. Talk it up

International news reports are full of difficult subjects, but you can find gentler ways to start a conversation. Perhaps a friend has an ethnic celebration coming up or children from another country have just enrolled at your child’s school.

Check your clothing labels.

Was your T-shirt made in Peru, Bangladesh, or China? Find those places on your map and talk about what life might be like there.

You don’t have to be an expert. Just your sincere interest serves as a powerful example that you care about the larger world.

3. Let music send a message

You don’t need to stop what you’re doing to declare “Now we’re going to listen to world music!” Just slip it into your music rotation. Dance to it while making dinner, listen while driving, or turn on a soothing selection at bedtime.

You and your children will hear lyrics in foreign languages and you’ll also hear English sung with varied accents.

4. Spice up family movie night

Try a family-friendly foreign film, especially those told from a child’s point of view. Where would you like to go tonight – Mongolia, Ireland, or India?

Make it a global snacking experience, too. Find an ethnic grocery store near you and ask the storekeeper to recommend best-selling snacks to pair with your movie.

5. Give gifts of the world

Handmade art and crafts make terrific gifts. It’s even better when you know the artisan benefited directly from the sale. Consider buying teacher, holiday, and birthday presents from a fair-trade store in your town or online. Children can find meaning and pride in a purchase that connects them to the bigger world.

6. Dip into a foreign language

Find out if your child’s school teaches any foreign languages. Can you support the effort or help get a programme started? At home, try online learning programmes and language software. Play games with your children to practice their skills or help with an after-school foreign language club.

Do you know a friend or neighbour who speaks a foreign language you and your children would like to learn?

Maybe you can arrange for informal tutoring.

7. Set out to serve

Offer your time and resources to make a difference.

It cultivates empowerment, motivation, and a sense of global connection. Serving helps make it real for both you and your children.

Where to start? Talk to local people already engaged in service. You also can take a look at US and global programmes making a difference on websites like GlobalLiving.com.

A global perspective can begin a family adventure that connects us with diverse communities and helps us see beyond our immediate circumstances. It also prepares children to succeed in an interconnected economy and society. Locally and globally, it’s a win-win-win. (kidshealth.com)

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saturDAY, APRIL 29, 2017| guyanatimesgy.com

Law books vendetta

Former AG to challenge criminal charge in High Court F ormer Attorney General Anil Nandlall has signalled his intention to move to the High Court to challenge the criminal charge of larceny by bailee, with which he was slapped on Thursday in connection with 14 law books that he has in his possession.

Released on his own recognisance after appearing before Georgetown Magistrate Fabayo Azore, Nandlall was defiant as he reacted to his arrest and indictment. Taking to social media in a release on Thursday, he said the lower courts should have given way to the High Court.

Calling the charge “frivolous and incredulous”, Nandlall said Article 153 of the Constitution of Guyana provides for criminal matters to be deferred until any civil matters related to the fundamental rights of citizens are completed.

Following his being questioned about the law books by the Special Organised Crime Unit (SOCU) on Monday, Nandlall had moved to the commercial division of the High Court, and Justice Dawn Gregory had, the very next day, granted a conservatory order restraining SOCU from taking possession of the law books.

While SOCU had acquired a warrant to search for the books, Justice Gregory’s conservatory or-

Former Attorney General Anil Nandlall leaving the Magistrates' Courts on Thursday flanked by supporters

der had spelt out that “an interim Conservatory Order be and is hereby granted, preventing and/or restraining officers and/or agents from the Special Organised Crime Unit (SOCU) and/or the Guyana Police Force of the State of Guyana from seizing and/or detaining the property of the applicant.”

Nandlall had this to say: “The truth is that this charge should never have been filed in light of the fact that I have instituted civil proceedings in the Constitutional Division of the High Court in relation to the ownership of these very books”. He noted that the charge should have awaited the determination of those proceedings, in accordance with Article 153 of the Constitution.

“This Article provides, inter alia, that if a citizen’s fundamental rights arise in relation to criminal proceedings, those constitutional rights’ issues must be first determined by a court of competent jurisdiction before the criminal proceedings are to proceed”, Nandlall explained.

He also said it is possible that his indictment would help the case of Attorney General Basil Williams, whom he hit with a $125 million defamation lawsuit earlier in the month for saying that charges were impending against him (Nandlall) for the law books.

According to the former AG, this will now provide his successor with the defence of justification.

Motorcyclist dies after crashing into plough

T

he life of motorcyclist Farzul Junior Bacchus of Three Friends Village, Essequibo Coast was on Friday snuffed out on the Aberdeen Public Road, on the Essequibo Coast in Region Two, when he attempted to overtake a motor car but collided with a parked tractor plough.

The 21-year-old clerk at the Makah Restaurant was reportedly heading to work driving his motor cycle and wearing a helmet when tragedy struck. His body was reportedly flung into the air and landed on the blades of the plough. As a result, his left foot was completely severed, while his body sustained several chop wounds.

Rushed to the Suddie Public Hospital, he succumbed to his injuries while receiving medical attention.

When Guyana Times visited the scene, an eyewitness detailed that the young man had landed in a nearby trench and was bleeding profusely when pulled therefrom. Several persons opined that had his body not been so extensively mutilated by the plough, he might have survived the accident.

The now dead man was

cident. His body is presently at the Suddie Hospital mortuary.

Collaboration

Dead: Farzul Junior Bacchus

the last of five children for his parents, and had only recently got married. His sister Faeeda Bacchus recalled that he had been a

Only last week, Akeem James of Golden Fleece, Essequibo Coast tragically lost his life after crashing his motorcycle into a parked lorry.

At a recent Regional Democratic Council statutory meeting, Government Councillor Hardat Narine had called for collaboration between the RDC and the Police Traffic Department in having all structures and equipment encroaching the

The motorcycle Bacchus was riding

very humble individual and a true believer in Islam. She also said he was wearing a helmet at the time of the ac-

roadway removed. This, he claims, is a hindrance to motorists plying the roadway on a daily basis.

“Rest assured, the criminal charge will be challenged and disposed of shortly. The

majesty of the law will prevail in the end. For now, I am happy that the world has seen how rapidly this Administration has descended into authoritarianism,” Nandlall declared.

“Perhaps, it is fitting that I – who have written so much over the past two years about the authoritarian conduct of this Government, its constitutional violations and its manifest disregard for the rule of law -- was the one that they used to showcase those very tendencies, as if to prove me right,” the former AG posited.

Nandlall said that even after the charge was filed, there was confusion in relation to which magistrate he would appear before. He said persons had felt that in-

structions had been issued for him to be kept in police custody. He has, however, credited Prosecutor Patrice Henry and Magistrate Fabayo Azore for maintaining their professionalism.

“I harbour no illusion that this will be the only charge that will be instituted against me. I anticipate that many more will come in the same political mould; not only against me, but against my political colleagues as well. From the moment we left office, this has been their (present Government’s) agenda,” Nandlall charged.

He has made it clear that his spirit and determination, and that of the People’s Progressive Party, will not be broken.

8

saturdAY, APRIL 29, 2017 | guyanatimesgy.com

For auld lang syne…

B

…Perfidious Albion

ack in the day when Britain was colonising us natives right, left and centre, the rest of Europe dubbed them “Perfidious Albion”. They were a country never to be trusted: with them, it was always a matter of “looking out for number one”! According to good old, Wiki, “Perfidious” signifies one who does not keep his faith or word , while “Albion” is derived from an ancient Celtic name for Britain.

They continue: “Perfidious Albion is an Anglophobic pejorative phrase used within the context of international relations and diplomacy to refer to alleged acts of diplomatic sleights, duplicity, treachery and hence infidelity (with respect to perceived promises made to or alliances formed with other nation states) by monarchs or governments of Britain (or England) in their pursuit of self-interest.” Yup!! Expect “diplomatic sleights, duplicity, and treachery” when dealing with our erstwhile “Mother Country”!

We raise this matter now because Pressie’s presently presenting his credentials to the Queen and members of the British Government. Imagine Pressie meeting Queen Elizabeth herself!! The British government’s really pulled out all the stops to woo Pressie, haven’t they??.

They would’ve done a background check and know when Pressie was a wee lad in short pants - he’d lined up with so many schoolkids waving the Union Jack in 1953 at her coronation.

Sent to the British Military school at Mons just before Independence, Pressie would’ve been totally inculcated into showing deference and loyalty to the Queen. Back in Guyana when she visited just before Independence, in 1966, would have shown the British Officers who headed the new Army how well he’d been trained. For God and Queen!!

But the question has to be asked: why all this attention to Pressie? President Burnham had stood much higher on the world stage after independence, but he was never been given this honour? What’s going on? Ahhh…no need to look further - Perfidious Albion’s at work!! Oil is in the offing and with Britain fulfilling the European’s long-held suspicion they’d betray the EU, she seeks to use us - once again.

When Britain needed their cuppa after the WWII - with sugar that had been rationed during the war - we signed the Commonwealth Sugar Agreement. And guaranteed them sweetness on Christmas Eve 1951. Wasn’t that sweet? We agreed to have the Agreement transferred to the EU in 1975 as the Lome Convention that was to last “in perpetuity”. Well, we got the stick from the EU in 2007…

Did Britain intervene for us? Not on your life!! Rather it was the strongest proponent of slashing of sugar prices!!

Let’s remember Perfidious Albion when they seek a piece of our oil!!

…in Cricket

Well there’s hope for us against Perfidious Albion and this was shown in cricket recently. For most of the past century, England ruled the roost over professional cricket through its control over the ICC. They then brought in the Aussies. Folks went along because that was how it “always” was. Until 2014. That’s when India- from where most of the revenues were now coming - flexed its muscles and demanded equality of the money with England and the Aussies. So much for “native unity”!!

Anyhow there was much gnashing of teeth among the rest of the cricketing nations - with some weeping in the WI. But like most bullies, the BBCI of India didn’t know when to quit - they teed off the Brits and Aussies with their escalating demands. The Brits in particular were miffed that a former colony was calling the shots.

And so just this week, they pulled the rug out from under India and had them cut their lion’s share of the take!!

The loot will now be shared more equally!

…in court

Isn’t the lawyer fella who wrote the letter, “No one should be charged or remanded to prison on mere suspicion” the one accused of diddling with some under aged girl over in Berbice??

Is he pleading early?

Readers are invited to send their comments by email to eye@guyanatimesgy.com

news

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saturDAY, APRIL 29, 2017 | guyanatimesgy.com

Govt responds to Reporters Without Borders report T

he Government is claiming that the 2017 World Press Freedom Index (WPFI) compiled by Reporters Without Borders (RSF) is “deeply flawed”.

This index, which puts Guyana three places down from the position it occupied last year, ranks Guyana at number 60 on this year’s Index; and according to its commentary on press

freedom in the country: “Journalists are subjected to harassment that takes the form of prosecutions, suspensions and intimidation.”

It has been outlined that although the Guyana Constitution guarantees free speech and the right to information, officials often use its defamation laws -which provide for fines and up to two years in jail -- to silence opposition journalists.

RSF also pointed out that members of the media regulatory authority are appointed directly by the President, and this restricts the freedom of certain media outlets, which are denied licences.

Government has, in a statement issued on Friday, expressed concern over the circulation of what it considers a “deeply flawed and undated report” on Guyana’s ranking.

Government’s state-

ment has also noted that Prime Minister Moses Nagamootoo, who has portfolio responsibility for information, is unaware that the RSF has conducted any survey or inquiry into press freedom in Guyana, and questions whether its findings were based on credible sources.

This current administration has said that the local media has greater lati-

tude and freedom to operate without interference from Government intrusion, control or direction than what currently obtains.

The administration has pointed to two recent cases of unjust suspension of state media employees which were robustly condemned by senior Government officials, and has said that both matters were addressed to the satisfaction of the affected employees.

The statement was referring to the last year suspension of National Communications Network (NCN) Sport Editor Jocelle Archibald-Hawke and the removal of journalist Natasha Smith from anchoring duties because of her pregnancy.

The Coalition Government has, moreover, said that it recently approved the appointment of an “independent and professional” Board of Directors

for the NCN, and is currently reviewing the Board of Directors of the Guyana National Newspapers Limited (GNNL) with a view to reconstituting that board as well.

While President Granger has on many occasions declared his support for press freedom in the local fraternity, he has come under heavy criticism for holding only one press conference since

his assumption to office almost two years ago. His last press conference was held back in October 2015.

The Head of State had also defended this record back in January by stating that in the absence of a presidential press conference, the purpose of which is to meet with the Head of State to find out his thoughts on a variety of issues, he has been making himself available to local reporters on ‘The Public Interest’ programme. This is a pre-recorded “weekly” programme that lasts for only 30 minutes, during which questions are posed to the President by the moderator, someone out of the Presidential Media team.

The last programme was recorded since April 6.

Opposition Leader Bharrat Jagdeo has called out President Granger for not facing the press. He has said the Head of State is hid-

ing from criticism against his government.

“I have a major issue about the President and his accountability to the nation,” Jagdeo, a former President himself, had stated back in January.

“He hides behind these pre-packaged interviews,” the Opposition Leader said, while calling on the Guyanese press corps to boycott the programme.

“He has not held press conferences because I think

he doesn’t want to be accountable on several matters that were happening in his government. So he packages these things and he deals with safe subjects in a safe environment,” Jagdeo posited.

Man recaptured after escaping from Police outpost

A

prisoner’s bid to escape from custody at the Ruimveldt Police Outpost was on Friday morning thwarted by the quick action of the Police.

According to reports reaching the Guyana Times, the suspect in custody had asked permission to use the washroom, which is situated at the back of the station.

But while outside, he scaled the fence of the compound and ran away.

However, upon seeing what was happening, passers-by raised an alarm, resulting in Police ranks giving chase.

The man was rearrested a short distance away.

As he was being taken back to the Police outpost, it

The bloodied suspect being escorted back to the Ruimveldt Police Outpost

was observed that he was drenched in blood, leaving onlookers to believe that the Police might have used excessive force in recapturing him.

The escapee complained bitterly of being beaten by Police ranks; but when contacted, the Police refused to disclose any information in respect to the man’s arrest.

Bandit shot after grabbing wallet

A

dreadlocked man whose identity has not yet been established is now a patient at the Georgetown Public Hospital (GPHC), nursing two gunshot injuries he sustained to one of his feet after reportedly snatching a wallet from another man in the vicinity of Robb Street and Avenue of the Republic, Georgetown.

Based on information received, Police are seeking this man’s accomplice.

At the scene of the incident, an eyewitness detailed to this publication that the victim had parked his car in the vicinity of Church’s and had gone about conducting his business. Upon returning to his motor car, which he was about to enter, the

dreadlocked man reportedly grabbed his wallet, and the man whipped out a firearm and discharged two rounds, hitting the suspect to his knee.

Police arrived at the scene and took the injured man to the hospital, where he has been admitted a patient.

They were, however, seen circling the area, looking for the dreadlock’s accomplice.

10 news

saturDAY, APRIL 29, 2017 | guyanatimesgy.com

IN THE COURTS

Repeat offender on remand Bagotstown man R slapped with murder charge Water dispute

epeat offender Jameil Charles appeared on Friday before Chief Magistrate Ann McLennan to answer an armed robbery charge which detailed that in April 2016, whilst in the company of others and being armed with a dangerous weapon (a gun), he robbed the Princess Casino at Providence, East Bank Demerara, relieving Daniel Ronald of some $8,051,000, property of Princess Ramada Casino.

The 28-year-old was also arraigned before Magistrate Judy Latchman on a

charge which dtailed that on August 12, 2016, while armed with a gun, he robbed Juliette Housell of $900,000 and one Bank of Guyana cheque, property of Sudesh Persaud.

Unrepresented by legal counsel, the defendant pleaded not guilty to both charges, telling the court that he was in prison on a murder charge (which was recently dismissed) during the time when the alleged Princess Hotel Casino robbery was committed; and had been in the interior after his release from prison.

Jameil Charles

Bicycle thief jailed for 36 months

P

Dead: Mark Ifill

Sheldon John Bowen

orty-one-year-old Sheldon John Bowen of Water Street, Bagotstown, East Bank Demerara was on Friday arraigned before Chief Magistrate Ann McLennan on a charge detailing that, on April 25 last, he allegedly unlawfully murdered Mark Ifill, also known as “Yankee”, during a brawl stemming from a dispute involving the filling of water bottles.

The incident that had reportedly led to the fatal stabbing of Mark Ifill had to do with Ifill filling bottles of water along a pathway which led to Bowen’s house on the day in question.

Bowen had reportedly approached Ifill and demanded that he remove from the location, instructing him to “stop fulling wa-

ter”, but Ifill had continued to fill his containers and load them into his wheelbarrow.

This allegedly so infuriated Bowen that he started a fight with the now dead man, drawing a knife in the process. He reportedly was hit numerous times with a bat as Ifill tried to prevent himself from being stabbed.

Bowen allegedly managed to stab Ifill to the abdomen despite Ifill’s defence, and Ifill succumbed to his injuries shortly after, as no one wanted to transport him to the hospital in their vehicle.

A report was made to the police and the accused was apprehended after reportedly hiding the murder weapon.

Bowen is expected to return to court on May 18, 2017.

F

Paul Sargeant

aul Sargeant was on Friday sentenced to 36 months in jail after admitting guilt in a simple larceny charge before City Magistrate Judy Latchman.

Sargeant admitted that on April 19, at La Penitence, Georgetown, he broke and entered the premises of Shem Wilson and stole one bicycle and

a gold chain, together valued at $65,000.

He told the court in answer to the magistrate’s question: “I needed a bicycle, that’s why I stole it…”

Magistrate Latchman has advised Sargeant that in future he should work in order to purchase items he needs, instead of resorting to stealing them.

Region 1 man remanded for businessman’s murder A

rraigned on Friday before Chief Magistrate Ann McLennan on the allegation that he had chopped to death Moruca businessman Ganga Persaud Chunga on March 17 last, 30-year-old Daniel Rodrigues was not required to plea to the indictable charge; and the matter has been transferred before the Aquero magistrate, who presides in the North-West District (Region One), to be heard on May 18, 2017.

Reports are that, armed with a cutlass, the accused emerged from a clump of bushes and dealt the businessman several blows as he was on the way to

meet his son at their farm at Coco, a sub-district of Moruca.

Fifty-two-year-old Chunga, also called “Krishna,” reportedly had his right foot and left hand severed during the attack, and was pronounced dead upon arrival at a nearby hospital.

Rodrigues had reportedly threatened to kill the businessman a few days prior to the incident, and although the matter had been reported to the police, officers there had failed to address the matter.

Rodrigues has been remanded to prison until the next court hearing.

Daniel Rodrigues

Driver remanded for causing death by dangerous driving

D

wayne Christiani is alleged to have driven motor car PRR 2605 in a manner dangerous to the public last Saturday, April 22, 2017, thereby causing the death of William Stanford on the East Bank Demerara highway at Eccles, East Bank Demerara.

The 22-year-old appeared on Friday before Chief Magistrate Ann McLennan, charged with causing death by dangerous driving.

In an application for bail, Christiani’s lawyer told the

court that his client is not a flight risk because he has a permanent place of abode at Republic Park, East Bank Demerara. He added that his client had cooperated with police at all times, and was released on $20,000 station bail.

Prosecutor Alvin Moore did not object to Christiani being granted bail, and this defendant was accordingly placed on $400,000 bail with the condition that he has to report to the Providence Police Station every Friday until completion of the trial.

Dwayne Christiani

saturDAY, april 29, 2017

guyanatimesgy.com

11

News

process will always be followed Crime Chief decries bail for Due for licence revocation – GNBA serious crime offenders … says broadcasters will have recourse to courts H W ead of the Criminal Investigations Department (CID), Senior Superintendent Wendell Blanhum, has said that when ‘serious crime’ and repeat offenders are granted bail by the courts, it often hinders the performance of the police.

The Crime Chief recently reiterated this concern when asked by reporters about the performance of the CID in solving crimes.

According to Blanhum, the CID has been performing “on par,” with an 85 per cent clear-up rate and the constant arrest of suspects and dismantling criminal groups.

However, he noted that one of the major challenges that his officers face is the fact that, despite all their efforts and heard work, perpetrators are often granted bail by the Courts; and often, when they get out, they create more trouble.

“When these known characters or high-profile criminals are granted bail and they have (ongoing) matters before the courts, (it kind of) imposes a very difficult or unfavourable condition upon us. Because many of the persons that we are charging would have (previously) come into contact with the law enforcement officers and they would have charged them; but they are back out, based on the bail either being granted at the Magistrates’ Courts or the High Courts, and that situation, in all honesty, has been affecting us, especially (in) regard to our performance,” the Crime Chief stated.

The Police Force has often blasted the local judicial system, saying that its efforts to apprehend perpetrators are often in vain,

Crime Chief Wendell Blanhum

since the courts would usually grant these ‘serious crime’ offenders bail.

This continues to be a major challenge faced by the Force, and is also a serious deterrent to its efforts at crime fighting.

This issue was brought to the fore back in September last year, when now convicted drug lord Barry Dataram escaped to neighbouring Surinamese days before the ruling of a drug trafficking charge against him. He was on bail at the time of the trial.

At the time, Assistant Commissioner – Administration, David Ramnarine, had pointed out that “…the Police Force is but a microcosm of the wider society; we are one element of the criminal justice system, and we do our level best. I cannot answer, and will not take responsibility, for the behaviour of other people who constitute and have a role to play in the other elements in the criminal justice system. I can only defend our actions in the Police Force and lay our side of the story in the public domain.”

Ramnarine, who at the time was the acting Top Cop, pointed out that four defendants who were charged in the recent past with unlawful possession of arms and ammunition are out on bail; and in three of those cases, they were granted bail by the High Court, while the other was granted by a magistrate.

“This is the reality of what we have to deal with, and challenges we face in law enforcement… This is something that should be known, so that right-thinking people can be concerned and have their say about the conduct of certain people in certain positions,” Ramnarine had posited.

Public Security Minister Khemraj Ramjattan had subsequently declared that persons who commit such serious offences should not get court bail. In fact, he noted that judicial officers must weigh the rights of offenders and the rights of the public when bail privileges are considered.

Even as calls have been made for repeat and serious crimes offenders to be remanded upon arraignment, the issue of overcrowding at the country’s main holding facility – the Camp Street Prison – remains. This, compounded with other issues, led to a deadly riot by inmates at the Georgetown facility back in March last year.

Government has, as such, since earmarked some $60 million for the rehabilitation and expansion of the Mazaruni Prisons, so that inmates on long-term sentences can be transferred to the Region Seven (CuyuniMazaruni) facility, thus creating space at the Camp Street penitentiary.

hile broadcasters risk losing their licences if their productions breach broadcast regulations, there will be avenues open to them for redress. One such avenue will be the courts where arbitration can determine who is on the right side of the law.

This is according to Leslie Sobers, Chairman of the Guyana National Broadcasting Authority (GNBA). Stating that the GNBA has compiled a list of broadcasters who have been in breach of the regulations, Sobers said while GNBA will sanction them, this will only be done with due process.

“Revocation of licences, suspension of licences, removing them from the spectrum altogether and then there is a provision for a $200,000 fine and imprisonment of six months. Those are the options open to us for infringement,” he said.

“Of course all of this is not going to be done capriciously or without due consideration.

There must be due process and persons will have the opportunity to make representations and even appeal any decision,” the former Magistrate emphasised.

With that in mind, Sobers stated that a broadcaster who feels wronged by an action taken by the GNBA is

Former GNBA Chairperson, Bibi Shaddick is now the Opposition’s representative on the GNBA Board

free to approach the high court and seek redress from the decision of the Board.

“And then we go there and examine the facts and the law and see whether we acted wrong or whether we were justified in our action to take them away.”

On Monday last, Prime Minister Moses Nagamootoo received recommendations from Sobers during a formal handing over ceremony.

New broadcast regulations are currently being formulated and upon completion of the new regulations, they will be laid in the National Assembly.

When asked, Nagamootoo

said the regulations will guide the operations and decisions made by the GNBA. According to the Prime Minister who is also the Minister of Information, he had consulted with the GNBA on drafting a subsidiary law for the regulations for the broadcasting spectrum in Guyana.

For his part, Sobers when asked by Guyana Times said the GNBA has for years been compiling regulations. He stated that when the previous Board came to an end, it was working on recommendations to present to the Prime Minister for broadcast regulations. turn to page 16

12 news

saturDAY, APRIL 29, 2017 | guyanatimesgy.com

Accused hijacker remanded S

hulendra Boodram of Crane Old Road, West Coast Demerara was on Friday arraigned before New Amsterdam Magistrate Alex Moore on an allegation detailing that, on April 26 last, he robbed Yougnauth Gokol of motor car PTT 5354, valued at $2.2M. Police Prosecutor

Orlando Webster told the court that at about 19:20h on the day in question, at Palmyra Village, East Coast Berbice, Boodram requested that Gokol take him to New Amsterdam. Gokol told Boodram that he was not going to New Amsterdam, but offered to drop him at Number Two Village, East Canje Berbice.

Accused hijacker Shulendra Boodram En route to Number Two Village, the 35-yearold Boodram placed a knife to Gokol’s neck and ordered him to get out of the car.

Boodram then escaped with

the car, but Gokol reported the incident to the police, and an all-stations message was sent out and roadblocks set up at various sections of the road.

Intercepted at a roadblock at Fort Wellington, WCB, Boodram alleged that he had rented the car from Gokol.

When effecting Bodram’s arrest, police found in the car a knife and three driver’s licences, eight cellular phones and keys to unlock different vehicles.

Prosecutor Webster, informing the court that police investigations are still ongoing, objected to bail, citing the fact that the accused knows the complainant and may tamper with the evidence, if released.

Magistrate Alex Moore refused Boodram bail.

The hijacked motor car PTT 5354

Indian Arrival and Religious Pluralism

I

ndian Arrival Day is around the corner, and, among other things, should remind us that the Indian immigrants added to our religious diversity. The Christian Europeans had hauled the Africans as slaves, before the coming of the indentured Indians, and stripped them of their religions, including Islam and other forms dismissively dubbed “animism”. They were to be “Christianised”. The Indians were overwhelmingly Hindus and Muslims.

Recently, there was a revealing colloquy between Dr Henry Jeffrey and Swami Aksharananda (who renounced his “Dr” for Ravi Dev his robes) on the need for some ground rules on how the various religions now here in Guyana -- more specifically Christianity and Hinduism -- should relate to each other in the public sphere. The issue arose in the wake of a headmistress allowing a Christian missionary to “proselytise” the entire school population, which included children who were Hindus and Muslims. Dr Jeffrey acknowledged that the particular Christian preacher’s church called for “killing homosexuals”, and was “designated a hate group by some and banned from some jurisdictions.”

But disavowing any personal religious alignment grounded in belief in a deity, Jeffrey yet saw value in religions: to “socialise” much needed values into individuals. While he “would not have entertained” the Preacher, he would support a “radically inclusive” policy, since to bar the Preacher and his ilk would lead to “a level of bureaucratisation that is likely to be extremely exclusive.” He would let a thousand flowers bloom, even the poisonous Belladonna or Deadly Nightshade, and trust Guyanese -- children included -- to deal with the consequences.

But, as pointed out by Swami Aksharananda, things are not as simple as that. There is, for instance, the question of power and its alignment with particular religions lingering from our colonial past into the present. Even in gardening, some gardeners favour some flowers over others.

Responding to Swami’s critique, Dr Jeffrey then proposed a framework from the political philosopher John Rawls to deal with the varying truth claims of religions -- which he saw as a subset of “comprehensive doctrines” -- in a society: “Reasonable comprehensive doctrines, religious or nonreligious, may be introduced in public discussion at any time… provided that in due course proper political reasons…and not reasons given solely by comprehensive doctrines -- are presented that are sufficient to support whatever the comprehensive doctrines are said to support.”

For several reasons, I had to smile when I read Dr Jeffrey’s piece. Not the least being that, after what is playing out in Britain, the rest of Europe and the US, he was still optimistic about Liberalism and its institutional approaches to create just societies. But then, Marxists were always most optimistic about changing the human condition by altering institutions. Dr Jeffrey had confessed to being “closer to Karl Marx” than to religions.

The other reason was that, in 1988, I had returned to Guyana armed with a freshly-minted law degree and the perspectives offered by two authors: John Rawls (Justice as Fairness) and Donald Horowitz (Ethnic Groups in Conflict). Both suggested institutional approaches to societal challenge -- Rawls from a broader, more rarefied Kantian outlook, and Horowitz from a grounded crawl through multitudinous multi-ethnic societies, including Guyana. After several years of hauling out these two authors in the newspapers and over television, one friend asked facetiously: “How the Rawls you Kant understand these chaps aren’t for Guyana?”

But seriously, Rawls was forced several times to revise his ideas on how to go about creating institutions for a just and stable democratic polity since his “Justice as Fairness” from 1971. In “Political Liberalism” (1993), he attempted to deal with the challenges of what he now conceded were the norm: more pluralistic societies. He introduced the notion, among others, of “Public Reason”. By 1996, he had to revise his ideas further in “The idea of Public Reason”. These were again modified in the introduction to the paperback edition in 1997. The quote by Dr Jeffrey is from this last modification.

I plan to address Dr Jeffrey’s substantive proposal in the next article, but would suggest that if Rawls were around, he would have had to write a new book in the face of Liberalism finally forced to deal with another “comprehensive doctrine” - now aligned with power.

news

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saturDAY, APRIL 29, 2017| guyanatimesgy.com

EPA Earth Day Jeopardy

Brickdam Secondary crowned victors

I

n commemoration of World Earth Day celebrated earlier this month, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) launched its first ever Earth Day Jeopardy which concluded on Friday. Three secondary schools faced off in the final round of the competition after which Brickdam Secondary emerged victorious, with Stewartville placing second and Linden Foundation trailing in third.

This initiative mirrored the structure of the American Television competition, Jeopardy, and was implemented to continue the educational and advocacy strides undertaken by the EPA in highlighting their focus on climate change and environmental protection.

First place winners Brickdam Secondary received their trophy from Safiya Gafoor of the Caribbean Youth Environment Network

Second place winners Stewartville Secondary received their trophy from Sharifah Razack

When the competition commenced three weeks ago, nine schools from Regions Three (Essequibo IslandsWest Demerara), Four (Demerara-Mahaica) and 10 (Upper Demerara-Berbice) participated in the preliminary rounds with only three advancing to the finals.

Representing their schools in the finals were Serena Rampersaud and Tamera Jones of Brickdam Secondary; Shamela Allen and Antoinella Allen of Linden Foundation; and Ellen Gopaul and Mohamed Sabir of Stewartville Secondary.

The finals of the Earth Day competition commenced with the first rounds of Jeopardy and Double Jeopardy, each presenting five categories for the students to make their pick.

Within these categories were a further five clues to which points were awarded for the correct answer. The students of the three schools confidently took on the clues and managed to correctly answer the majority of the questions presented to them. After the first round, the results fairly predicted the outcome, with Brickdam gaining the lead with 370 and Linden off to a slow start, scoring only 30 points. Nonetheless, the teams went head to head in the second and final round, resulting in the end game being a close call.

The questions ranged within the wide focus, incorporating elements of Indigenous culture with attention being placed on the

environment and climate change, mostly in relation to Guyana. The students were preview to briefing and training sessions prior to the competition which clearly was reflected in their sharp responses to the questions.

Speaking with Guyana Times, victor Serena Rampersaud relayed her excitement in being the

winners of the Earth Day Jeopardy. Rampersaud told this newspaper, “I feel full of excitement that I won. The preparation for the competition was exciting because I was really interested in the competition. It was stuff I didn’t know about. It was a lot of work but it paid off because we won.”

Rampersaud and her teammate Tamera Jones won themselves a nature/heritage trip to the Essequibo Islands in keeping with the exploration and understanding of nature and the changes with the recent years. They will be accompanied by their alternate team member ,as well as the teacher who assisted in the preparation and therefore played a part in their victor.

Brickdam Secondary was also awarded a custom made Earth Day Trophy, while the other two participating schools were rewarded for their participation and earn-

ing a spot in the finals.

Speaking at the grand finale was Director of the Communications, Education and Awareness arm of EPA, Sharifah Razack, expressed delight in the initiation of this competition and highlighted the educations benefits of such an undertaking, especially in the spreading of climate change and environmental protection awareness. Razack noted that, “This is not just a game. It has a purpose.” It is aimed at informing those present and participating, as well as oth-

ers who maybe be exposed to the competition about the reality of climate change and what is needed to be done to prepare and adapt to the changes.

Razack went on to say that, “It is not a time to be complacent. It is an exciting time for youths to decide how you will contribute,” as she pointed out the need for more efforts to manage and prevent further damages brought on by the drastic changes in the environment.

Razack’s warnings were back by Ingrid Trotman, the Assistant Chief Education Office of the Education Ministry. The Early Childhood Education Specialist stated that, “Guyanese need to get serious unless we believe that climate change is just a hoax. Climate change is

the reality and we need to do something.” With that, the Assistant CEO urged Guyanese to play their part in protecting the environment and indicated that the Education Ministry is committed to the fight against climate change and its damages to the environment.

The Earth Day Jeopardy is one in the series of environmental protection and awareness initiatives that was embarked on by the EPA as the country joined the world in commemorating Earth Day this year. This competition was sponsored by the Protection Agency and is the fruit of a partnership with several notable entities such as the Education Ministry and the Caribbean Youth Environment Network.

Third place winners Linden Foundation received their trophy from Sharifah Razack

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guyanatimesgy.com

saturdAY, april 29, 2017

Regional

Brazil hit by first general strike in 2 decades

B

razilian cities went into partial shutdown on Friday as the country observed its first general strike in more than two decades. Millions of workers, including public transport staff, bankers and teachers, have been urged to take part by trade unions and social groups.

Protesters are taking a stand against the President’s proposed pension reforms.

President Michel Temer says the changes are needed to overcome a recession.

“It is going to be the biggest strike in the history of Brazil,” said Paulo Pereira da Silva, the President of trade union group, Forca

Demonstrators in Rio de Janeiro and São Paulo blocked key roads with barricades of burning tires (The Guardian)

Sindical.

Demonstrations are taking place across the country, with organisers saying they would focus attention on dis-

rupting cities rather than small towns and rural communities.

Participants are opposed to the Government’s pension

overhaul, which will be voted on in Congress next week and which could set the minimum retirement age at 65 for men and 62 for women.

Public sector workers have been able to retire at much earlier ages.

A congressional bill to weaken labour laws also progressed earlier in the week, and the country is experiencing an ever-unfolding corruption scandal, which has been linked to many top politicians, fuelling further public discontent.

Some protesters set up roadblocks in various cities, including Rio de Janeiro, Sao Paulo, Belo Horizonte and Brasilia. (Excerpt from BBC News)

Barbados needs to develop Protest march to take an entrepreneurial culture place in St Lucia against

W

e must strive to develop and sustain a culture in our Caribbean societies that encourages our citizens to take risk in business.

That is according to Donville Inniss, Minister of Industry, International Business, Commerce and Small Business Development.

While speaking at the Lloyd Erskine Sandiford Centre at the Ten Habitat Caribbean Start up Summit, he explained what he thought were some of the key attributes of an entrepreneur. He said, “One

needs to be a risk-taker, think and act outside of the box, be a visionary, be bold, global in your outlook, confident and a positive thinker.”

He further pointed out that, “Banks are risk averse, but I would like to see a stronger culture of banks in the Caribbean partnering with entrepreneurs... Banks in the region can loosen up a bit and help grow the entrepreneurial class in Barbados and the wider Caribbean and we do understand they have to make profits...,” Inniss warned. (Excerpt from Barbados Advocate)

multibillion-dollar project

A

national protest march is planned in Vieux-Fort, Saint Lucia, on Sunday against a proposed multibillion-dollar, so-called ‘Pearl of the Caribbean’ project, to be funded by the country’s citizenship by investment programme (CIP).

The developer, Desert Star Holdings (DSH), is a Cayman Islands-registered affiliate of a Hong Kongbased thoroughbred horse company run by Teo Ah Khing, an architect and entrepreneur who founded the China Horse Club. The ‘Pearl of the Caribbean’ proj-

ect is valued at over US$2.6 billion and occupies a 700acre site in the South of Saint Lucia.

However, the proposed development has raised a number of environmental issues as well as questions over a US$100 million discrepancy between the cost of the project (US$2.6 billion) and the amount of money to be raised from passport sales (US$2.7 billion).

Furthermore, as former Cabinet minister Richard Frederick pointed out, “The Chinese are putting in nada (nothing).” (Excerpt from Caribbean News

Now)

Award-winning T&T film “The Cutlass” heads to Cannes

Arnold Goindhan and Lisa-bel Hirschmann in a scene from The Cutlass. The Cutlass will screen at Cannes in May, a great achievement for a film from T&T

“T

he Cutlass” played to sold out audiences at the T&T Film Festival last September, taking home the People’s Choice Award and Best Trinidad and Tobago Feature Film. Now, it is headed to the Marché du Film at the Cannes Film Festival in France in May, a rarity for Trinidadian cinema.

Inspired by true events, “The Cutlass” is a dramatic thriller set in the tropical wilderness of Trinidad, and tells the story of a young woman who falls into the grasp of a dangerous sociopath. Taken from her friends at gunpoint and dragged deep into the island rainforest, she must quickly learn to navigate this unforgiving landscape and the tangled mind of her abductor.

The film was directed by Darisha J Beresford, written by Teneille Newallo and stars German-born, Tobagoraised Lisa-bel Hirschmann, Trinidadian Arnold Goindhan and Hollywood actor Kirk Baltz.

A release said the film is one of three chosen by Film TT to receive both a grant and investment from the Trinidad and Tobago Government. Newly signed to Leomark Studios – a Los Angeles-based production and distribution company with more than 200 titles in release worldwide – “The Cutlass” will be making its international market premiere as part of Leomark’s new market line-up. The agency hopes to sell it to multiple territories around the globe, and has a track record of doing so. (Excerpt from Trinidad Guardian)

Time to pay up: UWI could be in trouble if Governments don’t pay their dues

Vexit: Venezuela to quit OAS O

n Wednesday, the same day that a majority of member countries of the Organisation of American States (OAS) approved a resolution to convene a meeting of Ministers of Foreign Affairs of the Region to consider the situation facing Venezuela, the South American country said it was quitting the bloc in protest at pressure over the government’s handling of the violent political crisis.

Breaking Organisation of Eastern Caribbean States (OECS) unity on the issue of Venezuela, Saint Lucia voted with 18 other member states in favour of the resolution.

The representatives of Antigua and Barbuda, Dominica, St Kitts and Nevis, and St Vincent and the Grenadines were among those voting against.

Grenada was absent from the meeting.

In a statement on Thursday, Saint Lucia’s Foreign Minister, Sarah Flood-Beaubrun, said her Government is concerned about escalating violence and political tension in Venezuela, and the loss of life and the democratic process

Venezuela’s Foreign Minister Delcy Rodriguez

there.

So far this month, 28 people have been killed, several of them shot, in anti-government protests that have erupted into clashes with riot police. Meanwhile, Venezuela’s Foreign Minister Delcy Rodriguez said her Government would launch a two-year process to pull out of the OAS. Rodriguez called the OAS an “interventionist coalition” led by Washington.

(Excerpt from Caribbean News Now)

Mexican Congress approves use of medical marijuana

M

exico’s Lower House of Congress passed a bill on Friday to legalise the use of marijuana and cannabis for medical and scientific needs, a step closer to outright legalisation in a country long scarred by warring drug cartels.

The bill sailed through the Senate in December and will now be sent to President Enrique Pena Nieto, who is expected to sign it.

“The ruling eliminates the prohibition and criminalisation of acts related to the medicinal use of marijuana and

its scientific research, and those relating to the production and distribution of the plant for these purposes,” the Lower House said in a statement on its website.

The measure passed in a general floor vote with 371 in favour, seven against and 11 abstentions, and now classifies the psychoactive ingredient in marijuana, tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) as “therapeutic.”

Speaking in April 2016 at a special session where world leaders gathered to rethink global strategy in the war

on drugs for the first time in two decades, Pena Nieto said drug use should be addressed as a “public health problem” and users should not be criminalised.

Pena Nieto, once a vocal opponent of drug legalisation, has said the United States and Mexico should not pursue diverging policies on marijuana legislation. Last year, he proposed a bill to allow Mexicans to carry up to an ounce of marijuana, a measure that has since stalled in Congress. (Excerpt from

Reuters)

T

UWI Vice Chancellor Sir Hilary Beckles delivered the warning

he failure of Caribbean governments to make their financial contributions to the University of the West Indies (UWI) could put the future of the regional institution in peril, Vice Chancellor Sir Hilary Beckles has warned.

And with more than US$100 million in payments long overdue, Sir Hilary sees a dire financial outlook ahead for the Cave Hill Campus in Barbados, St Augustine in Trinidad and Tobago and the Mona Campus in Jamaica.

The UWI official delivered the grim prognosis, contained in a report prepared by a company contracted to analyse the financial health of the regional institution, on Thursday at a regional news conference.

“They are saying that we are going to be in significant financial difficulty unless we are able to get an annual injection of US$75 million.

“That is where the rubber hits the road because at the moment the debt owing to this university by the Governments of the Caribbean is US$105 million,” Sir Hilary disclosed.

Noting that the report cautioned that the university was headed for trouble if it failed to collect the receivables, the UWI head expressed doubt that Governments would be in a position to deliver, based on developments from a recent meeting of the University Grants Committee with regional governments. (Excerpt from Caribbean360)

saturDAY, april 29, 2017

guyanatimesgy.com

15

Around the World

dismisses 9900 North Korea crisis: North Tanzania civil servants over forged test fires ballistic missile college certificates N T orth Korea has test-fired a ballistic missile, South Korean and US officials say.

It apparently exploded seconds after lift-off, the South Korean military was quoted as saying

by Yonhap news agency. A US Government source told Reuters the test failed.

The missile was fired from a site in South Pyeongan province north of the capital Pyongyang in the early hours of Saturday local time, the military said.

The type of missile is not yet known. So far there has been no word from North Korea.

The launch occurred a matter of hours after the US Secretary of State Rex Tillerson called on the rest of the world to help force North Korea to give up its nuclear ambitions.

Tensions in the region have increased lately, with both North and

North Korea’s leader Kim Jong Un watches a military drill marking the 85th anniversary of the establishment of the Korean People’s Army (KPA) in this handout photo by North Korea’s Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) made available on April 26, 2017 (Reuters)

South Korea conducting military exercises.

Less than a week ago, another North Korean missile test failed.

The US military reported that the missile exploded within seconds of being launched.

A few days later, on Wednesday,

the US installed anti-missile equipment at a site in South Korea.

The Terminal High Altitude Area Defence System (Thaad) is designed to shoot down short- and medium-range ballistic missiles as they are approaching their target in the final phase of flight. (BBC News)

he President of Tanzania has ordered the immediate dismissal of more than 9900 civil servants after a nationwide verification of academic credentials uncovered workers with forged school and college certificates.

Elected in October 2015, John Magufuli has also dismissed several senior officials, including the head of the government’s anti-corruption body, the tax chief, a senior rail official and head of the port authority as part of a wider anti-corruption drive.

Businesses have long complained that corruption and government inefficiency were major obstacles to investing in Tanzania.

The crackdown on fake degree holders comes after another purge launched in March last year discovered more than 19,700 “ghost workers” on the east African country’s

public sector payroll.

“We have been working hard to create new jobs while there are people in government who hold fake degrees,” Magufuli said on Friday after receiving a report on academic fraud in the civil service.

The Government had also been losing 238 billion shillings (£82 million) each year to “ghost workers”, he said, adding that they had now been removed from the public payroll.

Tanzania spends more than £200 million a month to pay civil servants’ salaries. The Government believes the public wage bill is bloated, with more than 550,000 civil servants at national and local levels.

Magufuli ordered officials to “name and shame” by publishing a list of all civil servants with forged academic qualifications. (Excerpt from The Guardian)

Montenegro ratifies NATO membership Pope Francis arrives in Egypt in historic shift to western alliance on historic visit

The members of the Montenegro’s parliament applaud after approving the NATO membership agreement

M

ontenegro’s Parliament has supported the Balkan country’s membership in NATO in a historic turn toward the west amid protests

by Russia and the pro-Russia Opposition.

Politicians voted 46-0 to ratify the accession treaty with the western military alliance. They then stood up and applauded the de-

cision. The Parliament has 81 members, but pro-Russia Opposition politicians boycotted the session. Several hundred Opposition supporters gathered outside the hall before the vote.

Montenegro has a small military of about 2000 troops, but it is strategically positioned to give NATO full control over the Adriatic Sea. The other Adriatic nations –

Albania, Croatia and Italy – are already in the alliance.

Russia has been angered by NATO’s expansion to Montenegro, which is in Moscow’s traditional area of interest. Russia’s foreign ministry denounced the Montenegrin parliament’s ratification of membership on Friday as “a demonstrative act of trampling all democratic norms and principles”.

The Ministry took a dismissive swipe at the country’s size and military capability, saying that “given the potential of Montenegro, the north Atlantic alliance is unlikely to receive significant ‘added value’”.

Montenegro has accused Russia of being behind a foiled election day coup in October allegedly designed to throw the country off its path toward NATO. (Excerpt from

The Guardian)

P

ope Francis said violence cannot be committed in the name of God, in a speech at a Muslim-Christian conference in Egypt. The 80-yearold touched down at Cairo airport on Friday before he was ushered in a car to meet Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi.

Francis is in Egypt on a 27-hour visit to push for dialogue with Muslims and support the country's embattled Christian minority that has suffered a series of attacks.

"Peace alone ... is holy and no act of violence can be perpetrated in the name of God, for it would profane his name," the Catholic pontiff said. He also warned against rising populism.

"Demagogic forms of populism are on the rise. These certainly do not help to consolidate peace and stability,"

Pope Francis stands next to Sheikh Ahmed al-Tayeb, the Grand Imam of Al-Azhar

he told the conference, organised by al-Azhar, the world's foremost Sunni Islamic centre of learning.

"It is essential that we spare no effort in eliminating situations of poverty and exploitation, where extremism more easily takes root, and in blocking the flow of money and weapons destined to those who provoke violence."

Acts that do not promote

peace are "a gift to the proponents of radicalism and violence", the pope said.

Amid high security, the pontiff is meeting with Sheikh Ahmed al-Tayeb, the Imam of the government-run Al-Azhar mosque and an Islamic philosophy professor, before meeting with Sisi and Pope Tawadros II, the head of Egypt's Coptic Church.

(Excerpt from Al Jazeera)

Trump fears ‘major, major Strong earthquake hits EU leaders to address conflict’ with North Korea off Philippines, warning Ireland's future in of large waves wake of Brexit U S President Donald Trump has said he would like to solve the North Korea crisis diplomatically, but that a "major, major conflict" is possible. China's Foreign Minister called for negotiation and dialogue.

The UN Security Council is meeting to discuss North Korea on Friday and will consider further measures to counter its nuclear and missile programmes.

The country has made several military shows of strength in recent weeks but a missile it was testing failed.

America sent warships to the region and began installing a controversial anti-missile system in South Korea earlier this week.

US Secretary of State Rex Tillerson said Washington

would negotiate with North Korea with a view to removing nuclear weapons from the country, not changing the Government.

He told NPR radio in the US: "We do not seek regime change, we do not seek a collapse of the regime, we do not seek an accelerated reunification of the peninsula.

"We seek a denuclearised Korean peninsula - and that is entirely consistent with the objectives of others in the region as well."

North Korea has carried out repeated missile tests in recent months and is threatening to conduct its sixth nuclear test. Tillerson also indicated that he thought China, North Korea's major ally, might be starting to see the regime as a "liability" or a security risk. (Excerpt from BBC News)

A

strong earthquake measuring 6.8 struck off the coast of the island of Mindanao in the Philippines on Saturday, the country's seismology agency said, and the Pacific Tsunami Warning Centre said there was a risk of large waves as far away as Indonesia.

The Philippines Institute of volcanology and seismology said the earthquake was about 57 km southwest of Sarangani. It was felt in most parts of Mindanao, the biggest island in the south of the archipelago nation.

There were no initial reports of damage or casualties. The Pacific Tsunami Warning Center said hazardous waves could spread

300 km (190 miles) away from the epicentre.

But Renato Solidum, head of the Philippines seismology agency, told Reuters no tsunami warning was issued and there was no need to evacuate the areas affected.

But the agency had issued an advisory saying people could expect a minor drop in the sea level, large waves, and people should steer clear of the coast, he said.

The Philippines is on the geologically active Pacific Ring of Fire and experiences frequent earthquakes, several last month in the main island of Luzon, which were felt in the capital Manila. (Excerpt from Reuters)

E

uropean Union leaders are set to acknowledge on Saturday that Northern Ireland could join the bloc in the future if its people vote to unite with EU member state Ireland, officials said Friday.

The leaders are meeting in Brussels to approve guidelines for their divorce negotiations with Britain, which is due to leave the EU in March 2019.

Two European officials said a statement on the issue is likely to be added to the minutes of the summit, to be held without British Prime Minister Theresa May. The officials asked not to be identified because the summit of 27 leaders still was being prepared.

Future relations between

Ireland and Britain, including how their borders would work with the UK outside the bloc, have emerged as a key problem to be addressed during the two-year Brexit talks.

Northern Ireland is unlikely to break away from Britain in the near future.

But a majority of people in Northern Ireland voted to remain in the EU during the referendum last June that led to Britain's departure, the first time a country has ever left the EU. In a letter last month, Britain's point-man on Brexit, David Davis, confirmed that the UK would honour a commitment to allow Northern Ireland to leave if a majority voted for the move. (Excerpt from

Times of India)

16 news RBL honours top US$700,000 for natural gas to electricity generation study performers of 2016 G saturDAY, april 29, 2017 | guyanatimesgy.com

R

Awardees joined by their family and management of Republic Bank Limited

epublic Bank Limited on Friday honoured the country’s top performers in the various fields of academic pursuits within the last year. Five students were recognised and awarded for their outstanding achievements at the primary, secondary and tertiary levels of education, continuing the bank’s decade long tradition.

Receiving the awards were Anthony Ferreira, top performer at the National Grades Six Assessment 2016; Kayshav Tewari, the Caribbean Secondary Education Council (CSEC) Most Outstanding Candidate 2016; Larissa Wiltshire for the Caribbean Advanced Proficiency Examination (CAPE); Tishana Rajkumar, Diploma in Business and Finance; and David Cole, the best graduating student in Social Sciences at the University of Guyana.

This initiative falls under Republic Bank’s social investment initiative, the “Power to Make a Difference” which is aimed at widening group efforts to serve, honour, encourage and empower Guyana’s youths so as to guarantee a successful future. The honouring of the top performers is an undertaking which the Bank has embarked on for 11 years now.

Speaking at the award ceremony hosted at the Head Office of RBL Guyana was the Managing Director

of the corporation, Richard Sammy, who congratulated the students and their support system for the successful outcome which was well deserved.

In an effort to highlight the objectives of the initiative, Sammy pointed out that, “We view education as a means to assuring the positive development of our families, communities and the nations as a whole.”

He then went on to encourage the recipients to be confident in their future endeavours while at the same time to recognise and focus on truly the important aspects of life.

Also in attendance on Friday was the Vice Chancellor of the University of Guyana, Ivelaw Griffith, as well as the Education Minister, Dr Rupert Roopnaraine, who delivered the featured remarks. The UG Vice Chancellor referred to the words excellence, integrity and respect as he encouraged those in attendance to always strive for better result.

On the other hand, the Education Minister lamented on the many deficiencies in the current education system but nonetheless congratulated the students and their families. Dr Roopnaraine stated that, “This event is an occasion for celebration; celebration of exemplary academic achievement, exemplary corporate social responsibility, both crucial pillars upon

which this society is going to develop and thrive.

Awardee Kayshav Tewari told Guyana Times that, “It felt great to know that all my hard work paid off.” The former student of Queen’s College went on to say that, “I am really proud to represent my country, to represent that my country has potential and that our country can do well at education.”

Moreover, Justice Roxanne George-Wiltshire received the award on her daughter’s behalf as Larissa is current at the University of the West Indies pursuing a medical degree in dentistry.

The delighted mother urged parents to be supportive of their children’s ventures even in the cases when it may be difficult to relate.

She noted that simple efforts such as staying awake while they study may go a far way to ensure fulfilling outcomes.

The award ceremony to honour the outstanding performers at the various levels of examinations in the past year was the result of a longstanding partnership with the Bank and the Education Ministry, as well as the University of Guyana.

This collaboration is projected to expand in the near future as the Minister indicated a further connection with RBL in the impending works Education Ministry to improve the level of education offered in Guyana.

Due process will always be...

“That Board came to an end and this new Board was put in place and that advice was not complete.

So this Board was approached by the Prime Minister who is the subject Minister and asked to review the advice that was given and to decide whether we want to expand.”

Sobers also listed some of the ways broadcasters can fall afoul of the regulations. These include “racial incitement, vilification of religion, the corruption of public morals, the quality of broadcasting from a technical point of view, the advertising of alcoholic beverages and tobacco products at a time when children are more likely to be viewing or listening,

disparaging references to women and racial epithets.”

Shaddick sworn in

Meanwhile, former People’s Progressive Party (PPP) parliamentarian, Bibi Shaddick was sworn in as a Board member for GNBA on Friday by the Prime Minister. Shaddick is a former chairperson of the GNBA and was chosen by the Opposition because of her familiarity with the authority.

However, Shaddick’s appointment was the source of contention after the Opposition had submitted her as a candidate, because of delays. These delays were ostensibly because Nagamootoo, the

from page 11

Minister of Information, had to get the signature of Minister Harmon on documents paving the way for her appointment.

The GNBA’s Board is now made up of Sobers, Shaddick, Dr Rovin Deodat, Shaharazad Khan, Jocelyn Josiah, Aretha Campbell and Joel Edmonds. After becoming operational on February 1, 2017, this Board is expected to serve for two years.

The previous Board of Directors comprised Leonard Craig, Anthony Vieira, Vic Insanally, Abiola Wong-Inniss, Jocelyn Josiah and Ameena Gafoor. Craig resigned on December 16, 2016, after a public fall out with other Board members.

overnment has approved some US$700,000 into a study that would seek to determine if natural gas could be utilised for electricity generation.

Minister of State Joseph Harmon said the proposal by Public Infrastructure Minister David Patterson was given approval by Cabinet on Tuesday.

The two-month desk study will be undertaken by Energy Narrative, a United States oil and gas consultancy firm.

During the eight-week period, energy work will seek to verify natural gas supply projections, verify natural gas demands projections, analyse the technical feasibility of the proposed natural gas pipeline,

compare the proposed natural gas pipeline with other transportation media, analyse the technical feasibility of existing power generation equipment, integrating new gas fired electricity generation equipment, analyse the cost to deliver natural gas and estimated impact on electricity prices and prepare the interim report.

Natural Resources Minister Raphael Trotman on Wednesday evening told the local business community that the Government has decided to bring the natural gas to shore.

The latest information from ExxonMobil, which will be producing Guyana’s first oil, quantifies the available natural gas, which was found along with the oil, at around 30-50 million cubic

feet per day.

Trotman said that amount can provide a 200 megawatt generation plant.

However, Government is still to decide how the natural gas will be used.

The considerations for the use of the gas include generating electricity, and fuelling the alumina plant if it is resuscitated or used in industry.

Minister Trotman said those are decisions that have to be made along with the decision on where the gas will go if there was going to be a pipeline along the coast whether from Georgetown to Crab Island.

The company has submitted its financial and technical proposals to the Government, Minister Harmon noted.

Guyana launches Tourism and Health Programme … first of its kind worldwide

T

he Public Health Ministry in collaboration with the Guyana Tourism Authority (GTA) launched the Guyana Tourism and Health Programme (GHTP) with the aim of protecting and monitoring the health of tourists as well as locals.

The Tourism and Health Programme was developed by the Caribbean Public Health Agency (CARPHA) with funding from the InterAmerican Developmental Bank (IDB) and was launched at the Umana Yana by Minister within the Public Health Ministry, Dr Karen Cummings.

CARPHA Tourism and Health Programme head, Dr Lisa Indar, told the gathering that the programme, which was launched earlier this week, is the first of its kind globally and thus Guyana, along with the Caribbean, is setting an international precedent as it relates to the health of tourists and locals.

She noted that the Caribbean is heavily dependent on tourism and is affected by major disease outbreaks. She added that the programme aims to also improve the country's capacity to provide cost effective and quality heath, food safety and environmental sanitation to health, safety and environmental threats.

The programme will see the development of a regional tourism health information, surveillance, monitoring and response system; credible Caribbean-wide health, safety and environmental sanitation tourism standards with certification schemes and capacity building in food safety and environmental sanitation.

Indar said inadequate health monitoring/response systems, the absence of standards/certification and lack of training has contributed to the spread of disease outbreaks and food safety and environ-

From left: GTA head Indranauth Haralsingh; CARPHA Tourism and Health Programme head, Dr Lisa Indar; CARPHA Executive Director, Dr James Hospedales; Junior Public Health Minister, Dr Karen Cummings and Chief Medical Officer, Dr Shamdeo Persaud

mental issues in the Region.

This, she noted, led CARPHA to sign a 'landmark' agreement with the Caribbean Tourism Organisation (CTO) and the Caribbean Hotel and Tourism Association (CHTA) to execute the tourism and health program.

She added that there are other Caribbean countries are approaching CARPHA, with their own funding, to implement the programme.

Head of the GTA, Indranauth Haralsingh welcomed the initiative, noting that it will see strengthened development in the regional tourism and health sector.

"This project will also strengthen human resource capacity and skills in health, food safety and environmental management and promote Public-Private Sector intersect oral partnerships at the national and regional levels," Haralsingh explained.

Junior Public Health Minister, Dr Karen Cummings, lauded the effort to make the tourism industry economically viable while ensuring health standards and best practices are upheld.

“This launch of the health programme in conjunction

with the tourism sector is timely and fitting as it envisions the establishment of a web based disease surveillance system for hotels,” Cummings said.

She stressed that the need for data driven systems cannot be over emphasised, since it will aid in the facilitation of easier monitoring and instant access to information on hotels and tourism facilities. “In the light of improved information system better intervention procedures can be implemented,” she added.

CARPHA’s Executive Director, Dr James Hospedales, noted that the programme have been developed with the more modern Caribbean in mind and noted with the vast categories of tourism, in Guyana, there will be the need for adaptation. He also stressed the need for all agencies to collaborate to ensure the success of the programme.

The Tourism Health Programme will address the HSE threats impacting on sustainable tourism in the Caribbean through an integrated approach of combining surveillance, training and standards.

news

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saturDAY, APRIL 29, 2017 | guyanatimesgy.com

Education CoI report Mother pleads with handed over to Govt public, Police for help T I Missing EBD woman

he preliminary report into the state of education was handed over to Education Minister Dr Rupert Roopnaraine on Friday; and the final report is expected to be handed over in the next two three weeks, according to the commission.

In delivering some of the commission’s finding, its Chairman, Ed Caesar, informed that there have been 98 consultations countrywide, with contributions from all stakeholders.

Caesar said the commission found that there is need for greater collaboration between the regional education departments and the regional administrations, to determine the educational needs of each particular region.

He said the commission suggests there be the establishment of an education committee at the regional democratic level, and urged that that committee should be structured to examine the needs of the region and convey those to the Department of Education, so those needs could be adequately addressed.

The report also revealed that some Regional Education Officers (REOs) are not aware of their responsibilities; and while systems are in place to inform them of such, sanctions are notably absent.

“Unless there is a system of sanctions, (wherein) people who are not performing are either removed or disciplined, we will continue on this same road. We are suggesting that there be a reorientation of officers in the region, and that reorientation must end up with them signing a contract to say that they understand that these are their responsibilities,” Caesar recommended.

He added that the committee had found there is need for the review of the criteria used to allocate officers to the region, since there has been no change in the policy since 1982. He also warned of the consequences of stifling teachers.

Education Minister, Dr Rupert Roopnarine accepts the preliminary report into the state of the education sector from the Commission’s Chairman Ed Caesar

“Officers in the region must understand the importance of teachers. Teachers are priceless; therefore, at every level, we must treat our teacher differently. We must empower our head teachers, we must let them understand that they must think outside of the box, we must praise and encourage creativity,” he advised.

“Too (many) people (teachers), during the consultations, complained that they can only do what have been demanded and directed by the officers. They can see things that they can adjust, and they can adapt to suit a particular situation; but they cannot (operate outside of what has been demanded and directed) because if they do that, the chances are they can be sanctioned,” Caesar added.

The commission’s findings also included a recommendation that the National Centre for Education Resource Development (NCERD) be equipped with the research capacity it needs, since progress in the sector cannot be measured and analyzed.

The report also noted that the ministry’s inspectorate should have a separate unit, and not be a part of another unit. “We are the only country, probably in the world, where the inspectorate unit is the part of another unit.

The inspectorate unit (is) supposed to be an autonomous body, reporting to the highest office in the land.”

The commissioners also

found that there is a greater need for Welfare Officers who are equipped with guidance and counselling skills, and recommended that there be one such officer in each school. However, they noted that, if not possible, there should be one officer with responsibility for no more than five schools.

In accepting the report, Education Minister Dr. Rupert Roopnaraine said he would be presenting the report to both Cabinet and the National Assembly.

“I would prefer the report not be buried in another Select Committee and we go on and on about the issues. I would think the comprehensiveness of the commission of inquiry is sufficient enough for us to act, and that is going to require some commitment; and that is something we are a bit short on,” he said.

The Government, in April 2016, launched an inquiry into the education system with the aim of gathering “evidential bases” for the revision, upgrading and extension of the system.

The CoI set up to conduct this probe would have held hearings across the country with parents, guardians, teachers, religious leaders, unions, and the private sector on their perception of the state of the education system, as well as recommendations for its enhancement. These series of engagements stretched into late November, with the CoI having a number of extensions.

t has been some nine months since 37-year-old Shonette Savory went missing and there has been no word on her whereabouts. As such, her mother is calling on members of the public and the Guyana Police Force for help.

In a video seen by Guyana Times, Savory’s aggrieved mother, Dhanrajie Murray, is pleading for steps to be taken to fast-track the search for her daughter.

“We are not hearing anything about my daughter so I’m just asking the public if they see anything or if they see my daughter, please contact the nearest Police station.

And the Police in Guyana, I’m just asking for your help, your support,” the woman pleaded from her United States home.

She is also asking for persons to assist in locating the two individuals whom Police had issued wanted bulletins for back in January in relation to Savory’s disappearance.

“I’m begging the public to please help, please help to catch these two people; they have my daughter,” Murray stated.

The two suspects are Patrick Kissoon, called “Pato” ; and Ritesha Rahaman, also known as “Tesha”; both 26 years old of Herstelling Sea

Missing: Shonette Savory

Dam, East Bank Demerara (EBD).

The 37-year-old woman went missing from her residence at Lot 222 Last Street, Prospect, EBD, and was never heard from again.

According to information, on the day of her disappearance, the woman who lived alone left home with the intention of buying credit for her prepaid meter. She reportedly returned, topped up her meter and then left again.

A man who lives in the area reportedly told Savory’s family that he spoke to her when she was heading out – he was the last person to see and speak with the missing woman. An inspection of her home revealed that the wom-

an did not take any important documentation or items, which indicated that she intended to return. Numerous attempts were made to contact the mother of one; however, her cellphone kept going to voicemail.

In December, during the course of their investigations, Police had removed the shack to inspect its concrete flooring after receiving information that the woman was buried there, however they came up empty handed.

The shack belonged to a man who resided at Belle West, West Bank Demerara (WBD) and who Savory was last seen with.

The man reportedly went missing after Police revealed that he was wanted for questioning. However, since then, no other information emerged and Savory’s family are still in distress as to what happened to her.

Anyone with information that may lead to the arrest of both Kissoon and Rahaman or anyone with information relating to Savory’s disappearance are asked to contact the Police on telephone numbers 226-1389, 227-2128, 2267065, 256-411, 225-2227, 2250575, 225-6940, 911 or the nearest Police station.

MARAD hosts maritime search-and-rescue table-top exercise for key stakeholders

T

he Maritime Administration Department (MARAD) has on Friday hosted a maritime search-and-rescue table-top exercise at the Rescue Coordinating Centre in the Ports and Harbours Complex, where stakeholders acted out responses to given scenarios, according to the Government Information Agency (GINA).

Participants were drawn from MARAD, the Coast Guard division of the Guyana Defence Force (GDF), Transport and Harbours Department (T&HD), Ministry of Health, Ministry of Agriculture – Fisheries Department, Guyana Trawler Owners Association, Guyana Fire Service (GFS), Guyana Police Force (GPF) Marine Department, Guyana Civil Aviation Authority

(GCAA), and the Civil Defence Commission (CDC).

Executive Director of CDC, Col (R’td) Chabilall Ramsarup, noted that the exercise demanded much time and good equipment. “Search and rescue is a serious operation, because we take into consideration the lives of people and its two distinct operations. One is search; and after (the object has been) found, we start to look at the issue of rescuing those that require it,” he explained.

Ramsarup noted that operation time is very important, and with time comes the equipment that they will have to use to make sure the response is fast and safe. He also explained that drills for these operations are very important, and must be done often with the respective personnel.

“Another important thing: drills, especially as (they) relate to our vessels, we have to practise them very often -- the fire safety drill, the man overboard drill, command and control onboard a vessel,” he added.

He noted that measures are being put in place to ensure that officers on board vessels are adequately trained, so they can perform these functions.

Director of Maritime Safety, Captain John Flores, noted that the exercise gave ranks opportunity to get to know the standard operating procedures of maritime search-and-rescue better. He added that informative material would be distributed to the agencies that participated in Friday’s exercise.

Over 840 children saved from family separation – CPA first quarter report

T

he Child Care and Protection Agency (CPA) has recorded significant success during the first quarter of 2017.

Director of the agency, Ann Greene, told the Government Information Agency (GINA) that the CPA was able to prevent the separation of 841 children from their families by providing increased support and services to improve the role of their parents.

Greene explained that these children were on the verge of being removed

from their families because of their home situation.

She said the agency worked with the parents, some of whom were in the special parenting category, while others received assistance from the Social Protection Ministry’s safety net programme.

Greene elaborated that without the CPA intervention, those children would have been placed into institutional care. She noted that the children were able to stay at home with their families whilst they

received services from CPA. “These children would have had to be removed from their families because they were at risk, but they (children) were saved from being removed because the (parents) cooperated and were able to change some of the things that were creating the vulnerability for children at home,” Greene stated.

Additionally, during the first quarter, the CPA successfully installed the new visiting committee for children’s residential care insti-

CCPA Director Ann Greene

tutions. The committee is a recognised body authorised to visit all established children’s homes and institutions. It consists of no less than 17 responsible citizens who will work with that committee for no more than three years.

The CPA director highlighted that there was the installation of new visiting committees for children’s residential care institutions. Further, an inspector of homes will be employed by the Ministry to work with the current 66

children’s home to get them up to minimum standards.

When the homes are up to standard, they will be issued operating licences, especially now that the Child Care and Development Service Act is in place.

The agency also managed to heighten its public awareness campaigns.

Persons in Berbice, Essequibo and Bartica are among those benefiting from more information on child abuse via newspaper, television and radio advertisements and notices.

18

guyanatimesgy.com

saturDAY, April 29, 2017

ARCHIE

A partnership will grow if you share ideas and plans. A (March 21- trip to visit an old, familiar April 19) place will spark an interest in reconnecting with someone you miss.

ARIES

Use your insight and exTAURUS perience to help you navigate (April 20- your way through the confuMay 20) sion and uncertainty facing you. Trust in your instincts, not in someone else’s.

dilbert

You can bring about change GEMINI and impress onlookers. A part(May 21nership will contribute to your June 20) success. Protect your assets.

Join forces emotionally, mentally and physically, but not financially.

You’ll be taken advantage of if you believe everything (June 21- you hear. Take a step back July 22) and size up whatever information you are given before you agree to get involved.

CANCER

Peanuts

Don’t hold back when it LEO comes to personal matters con(July 23- cerning a loved one, children Aug. 22) or elders. Speak up and offer suggestions to bring about positive change. Romance is encouraged.

Calvin and Hobbes

Money matters, if handled VIRGO properly, can turn in your favor.

(Aug. 23Avoid joint ventures and people Sept. 22)

looking for handouts. Use your intelligence when making decisions that concern your home and personal expenses.

A short trip or encounLIBRA ter with a friend, relative or (Sept. 23someone you can learn from Oct. 23) will help you make a decision regarding a partnership or family matter.

WORD GAME

SUDOKU

When dealing with legal, SCORPIO financial or medical issues, (Oct. 24use common sense and intelNov. 22) ligence. The choices you make will have a big influence on your future. Take control of your life.

An emotional situation will SAGITTARIUS cause confusion and doubt.

(Nov. 23- Focus on what you can do to Dec. 21) make things better. Offering solutions will put you in control. Resolve issues with practical ideas.

solution for Last Published Puzzle

Do something that brings CAPRICORN you joy or that you have been (Dec. 22dreaming about for some Jan. 19) time. Taking matters into your own hands and assuming responsibility for your own happiness is favored.

Have a garage sale or make AQUARIUS alterations at home that will (Jan. 20add to your comfort or raise Feb. 19) the value of your property.

Celebrate with someone you love. Romance is encouraged.

RULES OF THE GAME: 1. Words must be of four or more letters. 2. Words that acquire four letters by the addition of “s,” such as “bats” or “dies,” are not allowed. 3. Additional words made by adding a “d” or an “s” may not be used. For example, if “bake” is used, “baked” or “bakes” is not allowed, but “bake” and “baking” are admissible. 4. Proper nouns, slang words, or vulgar or sexually explicit words are not allowed. To contact Word Game creator Kathleen Saxe, write to Word Game, Kathleen Saxe, Universal Uclick, 1130 Walnut St., Kansas City, MO 64106.

Copyright 2015, Distributed by Universal Uclick for UFS

Emotional deception and PISCES misrepresentation can be ex(Feb. 20pected.

Don’t trust anyone with March 20) secret information. Take care of your finances and personal paperwork in order to avoid being judged or penalized.

saturDAY, aPRIL 29, 2017

Gambhir, Uthappa help KKR extend lead

T

he Kolkata Knight Riders firmed up their place at the perch of the VIVO IPL 2017 standings after they defeated the Delhi Daredevils by 7 wickets on Friday evening. After

– Gambhir and Uthappa – got together after Sunil Narine’s stumps were shattered in the second-over of the chase. Uthappa announced his arrival in style, on-driving Rabada for a first-

Sunil Narine’s stumps were left in disarray by Kagiso Rabada

opting to chase, KKR did well to restrict the visitors to 160-6. Later on, the KKR captain Gautam Gambhir and Robin Uthappa piloted the chase with half-centuries and helped their team gun down the runs in 16.2 overs.

The two experienced pros

ball boundary. Gambhir collected his first boundary in the following over when he cut Corey Anderson through point.

Despite a couple of quiet overs, KKR raced to 47-1 by the time the fielding restrictions had been relaxed.

In the seventh, Amit Mishra

conceded 14 runs. Uthappa then got stuck into the fast bowlers; he hit Chris Morris for 6, 4, 6 off the first three balls of the eighth over, and then collected a pull-six and an on-driven four off Pat Cummins in the ninth over. Both batsmen carried on to get their half-centuries; Uthappa got to the milestone in 24 balls, while Gambhir got there in the twelfth over, needing 39 balls to get there.

Uthappa was dismissed for 59 – run out by a direct hit by Karun Nair – and the 108-run partnership was broken. Gambhir ensured the job was done; he remained unbeaten on 71, made from 52 balls, and containing 11 hits to the fence. During his knock, Gambhir reached two significant milestones – 4000 runs in the IPL and 6000 runs in T20 cricket. KKR had chased down 161 in 16.2 overs, with seven wickets left in the kitty.

Kagiso Rabada was the only successful bowler for the Daredevils; he hit timber twice and finished with

‘Magic’ Khan proud of comeback victory

By Romario Samaroo

D

evastating pugilist, Imran ‘Magic’ Khan was in all praise of his team following his victory over Keeve Alicock at the Locked and Loaded in-

mighty thanks for this victory,” he said while indicating that “the task was not so bad” even though he made a lot of mistakes which resulted in him being cut over his left eye.

Khan was afraid that the

Imran 'Magic' Khan (right) returned to winning ways after an absence of six months out of the ring

ternational boxing card last Sunday at the Giftland Mall, which signalled the return of the champion.

The confidence level of the skilled Albouystown man was high, immediately giving thanks to the almighty for his success. “First off all I want to give the al-

fight would have been called off because of the heavy bleeding, but managed to fend off the injury to come out on top.

While Khan credited his opponent for his strength, it was clear that he had improved on his stamina which allowed him to last the six-

round affair still able to box, something that was lacking from his game in his previous two fights against Quincy Gomes.

“To be honest I still think I can improve on my stamina and fitness because I didn’t get to train much because I was suffering from an injury to my right side and ankle,” Khan said.

Khan noted that the fight was difficult and could possibly have a different outcome but deep down knew it would go down to the decision of the judges after sparring with Alicock before.

Immediately after the fight the management team of Khan had already issued a challenge to have a rematch between the two skilled boxers noting that the intention is to show that this win was no fluke. Also the prediction of that fight was a knockout in favour of Khan.

Meanwhile, Alicock had promised that the rematch is definitely on the cards as he is ready to seek vengeance and level the scores.

figures of 2-20 from his 3.2 overs.

D D were not helped in their cause that Sanju Samson and Amit Mishra failed to call for a catch off Robin Uthappa when the batsman was on 9, and the ball landed in between the two fielders. Skipper Zaheer Khan too had to leave the field after bowling 2.5 overs with what appeared to be a hamstring strain.

Earlier in the afternoon, the Delhi Daredevils posted 160-6 after being put in to bat. Sanju Samson and Karun Nair – DD’s newest opening pair – helped the team to a solid start, with the former timing the ball brilliantly and playing some pleasing strokes. The blossoming stand was broken when Sunil Narine trapped Karun leg before wicket in the fifth over.

For the hosts, CoulterNile – back in the KKR XI – was the most impressive;

19

Robin Uthappa

ures of 3-34. Narine (1-25) gave his team the first breakthrough and then returned to control things in the middle overs along with Kuldeep Yadav. (ESPNcricinfo)

the Australian returned fig-

SCOREBOARD Delhi Daredevils innings (20 overs maximum) SV Samson lbw b Yadav 60 KK Nair lbw b Narine 15 SS Iyer lbw b Coulter-Nile 47 RR Pant† lbw b Coulter-Nile 6 CH Morris c Woakes b CoulterNile 11 CJ Anderson run out (Jackson/ Gambhir) 2 12 AR Bawne not out PJ Cummins not out 0 Extras (lb-1, w-6)7 Total (6 wickets; 20 overs)160 Did not bat K Rabada, A Mishra, Z Khan* Fall of wickets 1-48 (Nair, 4.5 ov), 2-123 (Samson, 13.6 ov), 3-131 (Pant, 15.1 ov), 4-140 (Iyer, 15.5 ov), 5-146 (Anderson, 17.1 ov), 6-159 (Morris, 19.5 ov) Bowling NM Coulter-Nile 4-0-34-3, UT Yadav 4-0 38-1 (w-1), CR Woakes 3-0-20-

0, SP Narine 4-0-25-1 (w-1), Kuldeep Yadav 4-0-27-0, C de Grandhomme 1-0-15-0 Kolkata Knight Riders innings (target: 161 runs from 20 overs) 4 SP Narine b Rabada G Gambhir* not out 71 RV Uthappa† run out (Nair) 59 MK Pandey b Rabada 5 SP Jackson not out 12 Extras (b-4, lb-5, w-1)10 Total (3 wickets; 16.2 overs)161 Did not bat YK Pathan, C de Grandhomme, CR Woakes, NM Coulter-Nile, UT Yadav, Kuldeep Yadav Fall of wickets 1-9 (Narine, 1.2 ov), 2-117 (Uthappa, 12.2 ov), 3-139 (Pandey, 14.5 ov) Bowling Z Khan 1.1-0-8-0, K Rabada 3.2-0-20-2 (w-1), CJ Anderson 2.5-0-27-0, CH Morris3-0-39-0, PJ Cummins 3-0-22-0, A Mishra 3-0-36-0

Top prize tripled for Church meet the Street II

T

he annual Church meet Streets football tournament will pit some of the country's best church sides against community teams dueling it out for top honors as C & A unique in collaboration with South Quake Youth Ministry will on May 5 run off their second football competition at Tucville Secondary School ground. This was revealed by organizer of the tournament, Carlos Griffith who added that this tournament is likely to surpass what was achieved the last time the event was hosted prompting a change in venue from the Cliff Anderson Sports Hall to the Tucville Secondary School ground.

Griffith noted that the venue is in superb shape for the event and fans can expect a nice day of riveting five a side futsal action.

Being officially launched on Friday, Griffith informed this publication that the prizes would have been doubled overall since the last time, moving up from $50,000 to $150,000 while second place winners will pocket

25,000 and t h i r d 15,000 doltro-

lars and phies.

Not only has the purse increased but the competition will see the inclusion of various teams from Linden, Berbice, West Coast and West Bank Demerara as well as East Coast Demerara which is set to increase excitement.

The national holiday should provide futsal fans with plenty of action starting from 08:30h with 20 teams being involved in the exciting competition.

While there is no registration fee for teams admission to the venue is set at $400 per person.

Last year it was a Church team that captured the title as Titans got past Tucville Street side 6-5 on penalty shootout after the exciting 14-minute encounter end 1 all at full time in the Cliff

Anderson Sports Hall.

After each of the five players from both sides had scored, Titan’s Dwayne McLennan netted the winning goal in a game with saw fast paced and aggressive football with neither team dominating the other.

By the seven-minute halftime whistle the score line was nil-all. The second half saw desperate attempts to score by both and just when it seemed the would end scoreless, Jermaine Tinch put Tucville ahead when he found the back of the net in the last minute.

But Amias Benjamin clung on to faith like Job in the Bible and scored the equalizer with 20 seconds remaining in the match.

20

GUYANATIMESgy.COM

saturDAY, april 29, 2017

GCA/ Guyana Diabetic Association / PAHO T20 Under-17

MSC aiming to upset TSC

– DCC tipped to beat GYO

J

eremiah Scott led Malteenoes Sports Club (MSC) will have to turn in a superb display on Sunday if they are to defy the odds to get past Transport Sports Club (TSC) in the first seminal of the Georgetown Cricket Association (GCA) in collaboration with Guyana Diabetic Association

Joel Spooner

/ PAHO T20 Under-17 competition.

The venue for the match is the Home of Legends, more commonly known as Demerara Cricket Club (DCC). The first ball is slated to bowl off at 9:30h and TSC will start as favourites.

The contest could be dubbed

Qumar Torrington

‘Clash of the Neighbours’ or ‘Clash of the Thomas Land Sides’ but nevertheless it is a clash of two teams, who have played well to making to the semifinals. TSC topped their group, finishing unbeaten and completing a win against the defending champions DCC while MSC lost to Gandhi Youth Organization (GYO) in their only mishap of the tournament.

National youth player and Berbice U-17 skipper Kevlon Anderson, Adrian Hinds and Joel Spooner are the big names in the TSC side while Scott, Wayne Bollers, Kester McAllister and Tuen Hicks are expected to provide inspiration for the rest of the MSC side.

In the second semifinal which is set for the said day from 13:30h, reigning champs DCC will take on GYO for a place in the final.

DCC are definitely the favourites, their team comprises of several talented players, who execute at most times beyond their age.

Ashmead Nedd, Alphius Bookie, Qumar Torrington and Dequan

Ashmead Nedd

Jeremiah Scott

Bamfield are just four of the many talents within the Queenstown unit.

Apart from their strong squad they will also have home advantage on their side but GYO who have played quality cricket to reach to this stage will also be hopeful. Yeudistir Persaud is a popular name and he along with his colleagues will be looking to create an upset.

Both teams have everything

to play for and whoever loses will be exiting the tournament so who play the best on the day will progress.

Mikoowanyah Yisrael and Cyril Garnath are the umpires name to officiate the match.

Meanwhile the final is set for Monday May 1, Labour Day from 13:30h with Moses Ramnarine and Deon Feassal named to umpire the match while Andre Hurry is the reserve.

Vettel leads a Ferrari 1-2 in second practice

M

aria Sharapova is receiving "extra help" to qualify for tournaments following her 15-month doping ban, says her next opponent Kristina Mladenovic.

Sharapova beat Anett Kontaveit 6-4 6-3 to set up a last-four match with Mladenovic at the Stuttgart Open.

This is one of three events for which the Russian has been given wildcard entries after returning from her ban for testing positive for meldonium.

"I understand tournaments want her in the draw," said Mladenovic.

"She is very famous and they want more attention, which is part of the business.

"On the other hand, you can ask if it is fair to get a wildcard. It's a fact that she was caught by anti-doping, but she wasn't the first one.

"Others have also had the right to come back and play tennis, but with a different road - they wouldn't get invitations to tournaments.

"Of course, she is authorised to play tennis again, but why would she get that extra help compared to other players?"

'I let my tennis do the talking' When asked whether Mladenovic's comments would motivate her in their encounter, Sharapova replied: "Not at all".

She added: "I am not someone that uses it as part of my comeback. I have let my tennis do the talking.

"My results have spoken for everything

Sharapova receiving 'extra help' says semi S -final opponent that needs to be said. The biggest part of my comeback is what happens on court."

Five-time Grand Slam winner Sharapova's world ranking points expired during her suspension.

But she is yet to drop a set in Germany and will earn an automatic place in qualifying at the French Open if she reaches the final in Stuttgart.

She has also been given wildcard entries for the upcoming events in Madrid and Rome.

The former world number one was called "a cheat" by 2014 Wimbledon finalist Eugenie Bouchard on Thursday.

Sharapova said she was "way above" replying to criticism of her comeback by her rivals.

Sharapova eases into Stuttgart semis Sharapova continued her fine form following her return with a straight sets victory over Estonian qualifier Kontaveit to reach the last four in Stuttgart.

The 30-year-old broke twice in the first set, and dug deep in the second to take victory in one hour 23 minutes.

"I served quite well, which gave me confidence. I'm happy," said Sharapova.

"I kept myself in good shape, because once you lose it, it's hard to get it back."

Mladenovic booked her place in the last four with a 6-3 6-2 win over Spain's Carla Suarez Navarro 6-3 6-2 on Friday. (BBC Sport)

ebastian Vettel led a Ferrari onetwo in second practice at the Russian Grand Prix as title rivals Mercedes appeared to struggle for pace.

The four-time champion was 0.263 seconds clear of team-mate Kimi Raikkonen while Mercedes' Valtteri Bottas was 0.670secs off the pace.

Lewis Hamilton, seven points behind Vettel in the championship, was fourth quickest, 0.039secs off his team-mate.

Hamilton had a difficult day and also struggled on his race-simulation run.

But Bottas' form was more encouraging on the long runs, matching Vettel's pace as they practised for the first stint of the race in the final part of the session.

Vettel played down the significance of Ferrari's performance, saying: "On paper this looks like a Mercedes track and I am sure they did not show everything today.

Sebastian Vettel leads Lewis Hamilton by seven points in the drivers' standings after three races

"They did not get their lap together. The gap you see is artificial ... it is a circuit that suits them. They will be strong tomorrow."

Hamilton appeared to be struggling with his car throughout the day - he aborted his first two attempts at a fast lap, made a series of mistakes and was slower than Bottas in both sessions.

"It has generally been a tricky day," said Hamilton. "The Ferrari is definitely quickest as they have been all year so far and we will work to try to pick up some pace tomorrow."

"If we can get out tyres working properly I think we can be closer and similar. There is no difference to our car compared to the previous races so the gap is still very close between us as it has been in the past."

The Red Bulls of Max Verstappen and Daniel Ricciardo were fifth and sixth but 1.4 seconds off Vettel's pace, and the Dutchman ground to a halt with an engine problem midway through the session.

It was another difficult day for McLarenHonda. Stoffel Vandoorne suffered an engine problem at the end of the first session which required a change of power-unit.

That has resulted in the Belgian receiving a 15-place grid penalty because he has already used too many of the six constituent parts of the engine. Vandoorne is now on his fifth turbocharger and fifth MGU-H, the part of the hybrid system that recovers energy from the turbo, when only four changes are permitted in the entire 20-round season.

Team-mate Fernando Alonso was 12th quickest, 2.6 seconds slower than Vettel. (BBC Sport)

21

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GUYANATIMESgy.COM

saturdAY, april 29, 2017

CWI/Women’s Regional Super50 Tournament 2017

Matthews, King set up Grand Final between Barbados T&T – Jamaica crush Guyana

A

strong all-round performance from West Indies Women’s star Hayley Matthews allowed Barbados to crush Leeward Islands by eight wickets today and finish unbeaten in the preliminary competition of the Women’s Regional Super50 Tournament.

This result and the same for defending champions Trinidad & Tobago over hosts Windward Islands – inspired by Windies Women’s all-rounder Stacy-Ann King – set up a mouth-watering Grand Final featuring the two teams from regional sport’s fiercest rivalry on Sunday at the Arnos Vale Sports Complex.

At Sion Hill: The 19-year-old Matthews grabbed 6-16 from 7.2 overs with her flighty off-spin and the fragile Leewards batting collapsed for 65 in 27.2 overs, after they were put in to bat in the fifth round match.

Windies Women’s fast bowler Shamilia Connell took 2-12 from eight overs to help with the demolition, as Saneldo Willett, the daughter of former West Indies off-spinner Elquemedo Willett, whose sons Tonito and Akito also played regionally for the Leewards on the men’s side, was the only player to make it to double figures, leading the way with 13.

Matthews then struck six fours and one six in the top score of 43 from 31 balls to anchor the Barbadians to victory with 237 balls remaining before the scheduled lunch interval and finish the preliminary competition with 24 points.

At the Arnos Vale Sports Complex: King featured in an unbroken 98run, third-wicket stand with opener Felicia Walters that pushed T&T past the Windwards.

King hit five fours in 58 from 109 balls and Walters

was not out on 40, as T&T successfully chased 122 for victory with 85 balls remaining to claim a bonus point.

T&T were 25 for two in

seventh over, after losing opener Reniece Boyce for nine and Windies Women’s batsman Britney Cooper for a six-ball duck – but King came to the crease and with

Stafanie Taylor

GCA/ Carib Beer T20

UG, TSC in search of semifinal spot

L

ast weekend Georgetown Cricket Association (GCA) Carib Beer T20 matches provided lots of excitement in the three matches that were played. Reigning champions and favourites to win the title Demerara Cricket Club (DCC) defeated Transport Sports Club (TSC, University of Guyana (UG) continued their good showing in the tournament with a win against Guyana National Industrial Corporation (GNIC) and Georgetown Cricket Club (GCC) clinched Gandhi Youth Organisation (GYO) in a low scoring clash.

Due to the results in two of the matches, DCC versus TSC and UG against GNIC, the final group match between TSC and UG at the Malteenoes Sports Club (MSC) ground today is eagerly anticipated and has garnered the interest of many cricket lovers and cricketers.

There are talks about who will emerge victors and gain a possible semifinal spot against GCC, group B winner or if Police Sports Club, who are currently on 51 points from four matches will finish second in the group behind DCC. The results will determine the outcome in the group but the build up to the clash have proved why the tournament is deemed as the best locally organized cricket event.

Except against DCC, UG bowling has been their weapon of destruction as they managed to restrict the other teams to scoring rates under 7.5, which is good in T20 cricket. Darnell Douglas is their marquee

player, he strikes the ball powerfully and is an attacking medium fast bowler and quite a good fielder. Former junior national players Royston Alkins and Leon Williams

Rafael Singh (right) collecting his Man of the Match trophy in a recent final hosted by the GCA

were known for their batting exploits in their heydays; however, they have fallen away to some extent. A return to form at this point could give their team a big boost. Alkins is arguably University’s best bowler and he has

done much to contain the batsmen so far, especially in the match against inaugural champions Police SC. Meanwhile, TSC have been playing competitive cricket at all levels in GCA competitions over the past year. Last weekend they won the New Building Society (NBS) 40 over second division tournament and less than a month ago finished as runners up in the Noble House Seafoods second division two day championship.

If they qualify for the semifinals in this competition it will add to their progress in recent years, especially for a team without a complete practice facility.

Recently off spinner Rafael Singh has become their leading bowler and a lot will be on his shoulders in today’s must win clash.

In the batting department Suresh Budhoo, Ryan Hemraj and all-rounder Oslyn Batson are expected to play key roles for their team.

The first ball in the match is scheduled to bowl off at 13:30h.Umpires Hortence Isaacs and Shannon Crawford will stand in the match.

Here is a look of how the teams performed in their groups; Zone A-DCC 76 points from four matches, Police 51 points from four matches, UG 41 from three matches, GNIC 29points from four matches and TSC 28 points from three matches.

Zone B-GCC 66 points from four matches, Everest 63 points from four matches, Malteenoes 61 points from four matches, GDF 31 points from four matches and GYO 24 points from four matches.

the obdurate Walters guided her side over the finish line with little fuss.

Earlier, Lee-Ann Kirby was the pick of the T&T bowlers with 3-17 from 10 overs, as the Windwards were bowled out for 121 in 47.2 overs.

Spinners Karishma Ramharack and Kamara Ragoobar snapped up two wickets apiece to break the back of the Windwards’ batting which was led by veteran Juliana Nero’s 25 and 20 from Roylin Cooper.

At Park Hill: Jamaica captain Stafanie Taylor saved her best for last, hitting a fluent 89 to lead her side to their first victory of the tournament by 112 runs over Guyana.

The incumbent Windies Women’s captain gathered seven fours and one six from 117 balls innings, as the Jamaicans were dismissed for 188 – the highest total of the tournament – from their allocation of 50 overs.

The innings was built around a 106-run, seventh-wicket stand between Taylor and Tameka Sanford

that rescued Jamaica from 66 for six in the 24th over.

Once Sanford was bowled by international Subrina Munroe for 31 in the 48th over, the rest of the batting, including Taylor, succumbed for 16 in the same number of balls.

Windies Women’s medium-fast bowler Chedean Nation then grabbed 3-20 from 8.3 overs and Chinelle Henry took 2-17 from seven overs, as the Guyanese were bowled out for 76 in 30.3 overs. The run outs of openers June Ogle and Melanie Henry, as well as captain and Windies Women’s fast-medium bowler Tremayne Smartt did not help the Guyana chase – and the Jamaicans claimed a bonus point victory in a strong finish to the tournament.

Final points standings after the fifth round of matches 1 Barbados 24 points 2. Trinidad & Tobago 19 3. Windward Islands 15 4. Jamaica 7 5. Guyana 5 6. Leeward Islands 2

GHB/ Farfan & Mendes, Woodpecker Products 1st Division Outdoor League…

Old Fort no match for Bounty GCC at home

Kareem McKenzie (25) blasts his lone goal in Bounty GCC’s victory

A

t the Georgetown Cricket Club (GCC) Ground, Bourda on Friday afternoon, Bounty GCC were too much for Old Fort at Bourda in the only match of the day in the Guyana Hockey Board organised Farfan and Mendes, Woodpecker Products first division outdoor league.

In the 8-2 trashing, Bounty GCC asserted their command early in the game with Mark Sargeant scoring in just the third minute followed by Kevin Spencer who converted 10 minutes later.

However, Warren Williams and Aderemi Simon scoring for Old Fort before the half way mark of the hour long match to level the scores heading to the halfway point.

Kareem McKenzie took

over proceedings and netted in the 34th minute before Shaquille Leung scored back to back goals in the 42nd and 43rd minutes but the thrashing came as Spencer returned late in the game to score a remarkable barrage of goals for a total of four.

Spencer scored in the 44th, 58th and 59th minutes to leave Old Fort reeling.

The action continues today at the St. Stanislaus College Ground, Carifesta Avenue with GCC Spartans coming up against Woodpecker Hikers in the female division which is sponsored by Woodpecker Products at 15:00h and Pepsi Hikers taking on Old Fort at 16:30h in the men’s division sponsored by Farfan & Mendes.

guyanatimesgy.com

saturDAY, april 29, 2017

23

GFF, Regional associations on same page following MoU

– Associations boosted with gears ahead of national tournaments

By Romario Samaroo

A

t a simple handing over ceremony at the Georgetown Football Federation (GFF) head office, Dadanawa Street, Section K, Campbellville, the federation presented the sub-associations with gears after signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Member Association on Friday.

The GFF-NAMILCO 'Thunderbolt Flour Power' National Under17 Intra-

their respective presidents collected on their behalf.

Meanwhile, Forde reiterated that “today is a very important day for football in Guyana and again today is another example of the executive committee delivering on its promise and commitment to its membership” as the two entities entered into an agreement.

This memorandum, he pointed out “is a necessary step in establishing the level of corporation

GFF President Wayne Forde (left) inks the deal with East Bank Demerara FA President Franklin Wilson

Association Tournament and the GFF-Pele Alumni Frank Watson National U-15 Intra Association Tournament are scheduled to begin in early May and as such the football gears were given ahead of the start of the National Under 15 tournament by President of the GFF, Wayne Forde.

While there are nine association members, only six were present including East Bank Demerara, Berbice, Essequibo/ Pomeroon, Upper Demerara, West Demerara and Bartica of which

I think we need between all the stake holders that are involved in the administration of football.”

Looking on what had been accomplished in the previous months of the nationwide NAMILCO tournament that ran a few months ago, Forde indicated that it “give the GFF an opportunity to evaluate where we are as a family in terms of our capacity to execute some of our programmes and what we observed during the months that the NAMILCO tournament ran for is that many of our colleagues with-

in the membership have some fundamental challenges in terms of their ability to execute and the challenge range from the capacity to just being more responsible and accountable for the materials that were issued to them and ensuring that the conduct of the league was consistent with what was expected from members association.”

It is that tournament that gave birth to the idea of having an agreement between the two parties which would highlight the various roles and responsibilities of those involved.

“We thought about it and we saw it as a learning opportunity and what we have done is put together a memorandum of understanding that clearly indicates the responsibility of the members and the federation so I think this will give us some platform that we can move forward on because ultimately we are accountable to the sponsors and we cannot have the sponsors coming on board giving us their support otherwise and not be able to execute these tournaments so it is important that the football family our member association recognise that everything considered and done to ensure we protect these relationships that we have.” Forde said The GFF president praised the Pele Alumni Organisation saying that it “sets a very fine example for former players of the game for them to come on board and support a tournament that reaches beyond their club in my opinion is very commendable” but nevertheless expects the organisers “to perform and run this tournament in a manner that demonstrate a level of worthiness and investment that was made.”

He went on to say that the GFF will be “looking forward to an exciting and competitive tournament both at the Under 15 and

Bartica FA president, Carmel Williams displays the MoU signed between her and GFF President Wayne Forde

u 17 levels” pleading the commitment of the GFF. According to the GFF boss, the executive committee will be visiting venues over the course of this league “to have a first-hand view

as to the execution and the quality of the players as the leagues will present the best opportunity for the scouting of players which is a new strategy implemented by the technical department.”

Arrival Day domino competition set for Ministry of Agriculture

T

he Ministry of Foreign Affairs Office Assistants Sport Promotion will host an Arrival Day domino competition on Friday May 5 at the Ministry of Agriculture canteen, Regent Road, Bourda.

The action begins from 11:00h with the Minister of State Trophy and medals for the winning team, the Mike’s Ink Business centre trophy for the runner up team and other special prizes up for grabs.

The closing date for registration will be Wednesday May 5 and all teams are asked to contact James Lewis at the Ministry

of Foreign Affairs registry on 628-1656 or 666-5857. No late entry will be accepted.

Also on the day, there will be a fish fry and lime as well as Karaoke starting from 14:00h to add to the full day of fun.

Meanwhile on May 21, the organisers will be hosting the Inter ministries and workplace tape ball cricket competition. The event will take place at the National Cultural Centre Tarmac from 09:00h.

Teams are also asked to make contact with Lewis for registration forms as registration is set to close on May 18.

Sports is no longer our game, it’s our business

SATURDAY, APRIL 29, 2017

guyanatimesgy.com

GFF, Regional associations on same page following MoU

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– Associations boosted with gears ahead of national tournaments Exciting times for football! (From left) Franklin Wilson (East Bank Demerara FA), Carmel Williams (Bartica FA), President of GFF Wayne Forde, Magzene Stewart (Pomeroon/Essequibo FA) and Keith Ojeer (Berbice FA)

‘Magic’ Khan proud Top prize tripled for Church meet the Street II of comeback victory

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Imran 'Magic' Khan now has a professional career record of 4-2-2

Carlos Griffith (left) of C&A Unique and Allister Griffith of South Quake Youth Ministry at the launch of the tournament on Friday

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